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This is Page 3 of 4 - the best of May 2017!
posted: June 2nd, 2017
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This page begins with May 15th and another trip to the Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge for a hike on their trails.  On the same day, we also went to the University of Alaska - Fairbanks to search for Pasque Flowers on a sunny south facing hillside there.  We found only one of them.  Then, on May 16th we returned there to search for Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa var. americana) plants.  Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin May 15th
  On May 13th we went to Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge for a hike on their trails. That means that we must have an obligatory Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) photo. The second photo is zoomed in looking quite far across the fields. Behind everything, is Birch Hill, on the east side of Fairbanks. The third shot shows a nice photo of a bird which we do not know the name of. If you know, then please drop us an e-mail (link at bottom of page).
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  Here are three more shots of that unknown bird, again, if you know the name, please tell us via e-mail (link at bottom of page).
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  Green-up was happening here too, as shown in these two shots of the buds of some species of Willow. The third shot is of a pair of Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola). I never knew that they left the ocean, but obviously, they do. This was on the Creamer's Field main pond.
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  Here are three nice scenic shots of the pond area.
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  Here is a 2-shot Panorama (Portrait Mode photos) of the pond, showing a nice reflection. The second shot is a male Bufflehead. The third shot is some kind of swallow, such an amazing blue.
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  Here are two more shots of that Swallow. That shade of blue is amazing. The third shot shows what the effects of global warming are doing here. Melting permafrost is causing rising water levels in places like this, and birch trees were not designed to live in permanent standing water. This is happening in so many places here in Interior Alaska right now.
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  On that same day, we also went and tromped around the hilly, and south facing, forested area near the southeast corner of the University of Alaska - Fairbanks campus. We were in search of Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla patens), which a friend had told us she had seen here in the past. After a lot of searching, we finally found one plant. We were fortunate because on that day, the flower was at its prime.
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  Here are the final two shots of Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla patens). We finally found an abundance of them, in a very different place on May 29th - some of those shots will be included next month.
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  Still on the UAF campus, just walking to the next forested area. A nice patch of Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) in a dormitory yard.
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End May 15th, Begin May 16th & 17th
  On May 16th Kazuya and I went to a piece of University of Alaska - Fairbanks (UAF) property to search for Calypso Orchids (Calypso bulbosa var. americana). We had read in a book that we might find them in this area, and the book was correct - we found them - not yet in bloom, but they will be soon!
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  Here is one more shot of a Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa var. americana) plant. The second shot is a White Violet (Viola renifolia). The third shot was taken in our own home garden. It shows one of our rhubarb plants.
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  Here are two shots of a Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) on our suet feeder. When I sent this photo to a friend, he informed me that woodpeckers like something to support their tails. I can see why, this looks very uncomfortable.
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End May 16th & 17th, End Page 3
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Please continue on to page 4 for the conclusion of this month's adventures and photos! Go To Page:


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