CCNAP Stewardship Report

March 22, 2025

Master naturalists perform stewardship duties at the Eastern Shore Natural Area Preserves that are open to the public. Volunteer Bob Suppa reports on his recent spring stewardship walk at the Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve.

It was Saturday and a perfect third day of spring as the sun was shining, a few puffy clouds were floating overhead in the giant pool of blue atmosphere. I also noted the joyous realization that I did not need the jacket I brought. My walking partner Barbara was with me in spirit.

I usually expect to bump elbows with folks on any weekend stroll through our preserve. With the work that has been done to make the area look so well kept and the never ending care given by my fellow stewards it has become a mini mecca, at least for me. Along the way I exchanged pleasantries with 3 dogs all of whom had their owners in tow. One older Golden Lab stopped me and made me reach down and scratch his ears. Being a huge fan of dogs, I was going to do this anyway but I appreciate him staying on top of his expectations and silently giving me orders.

I walk the Wetlands Overlook boardwalk first because pond life fascinates me and being above the waters surface and away from the ponds edge is such a unique vantage point.

There were numerous Painted Turtles sunbathing wherever they could find a place to perch above water in direct sunlight. They were intent on getting their warming rays as they did not move a muscle when I tiptoed past them. Normally one turtle will panic and noisily fall off its branch into the water causing the Cascading Turtles Falling Off Branches Alarm System to be activated.

I was also lucky enough to see 3 Hooded Mergansers swimming slowly around the pond.

There are usually a lot of surface insects on the pond and timing their movements in order to obtain a clear image is quite, ummmmm, fun! This is a water strider, family Gerridae, subgenus Gerris.

Along the way I saw something protruding from a tree and it was so strange I had to investigate. At first I thought the tree needed a Kleenex in a really bad way but the closer I got the more obvious the fungi became. According to iNaturalist this is an Inocutis dryophila. This specimen has dried out considerably. In its hydrated state (the photos I saw on the website were used for comparison) it is a bright orange yellow and very plump looking.

I don’t know if anyone else has noticed this but in the vicinity of the Great Wall of Bayshore and the inclined portion of the boardwalk I have repeatedly spotted Bald Eagles. I can see no evidence of a nest and I make it a point to scout the tree tops when approaching that area. I can not say with certainty that there is a pair of them but logic suggests this. I saw one while on my walk as it flew by, not too high, but moving quickly away from that area. The photo below is from 2024 in the same location.