NCAMN Hike from Red Bank to Niles Landing

 Five enthusiastic and energetic NCAMN hikers explored a beautiful section of the Ozark Keystone Trail on Monday, March 23, 2026.  The hike is neither long nor particularly strenuous -- though this is the Ozarks and there was plenty of climbing up and down. When I posted the hike on my Strava page, I called it "Ten Thousand Trout Lilies" because there was one area almost entirely covered with Trout Lilies (which probably bloomed a couple of week ago).

I am posting a few photos of participants and views.

Cindy, Susan, and Mary Beth on Bean Bluff

Rob and Mary Beth on Bean Bluff

Vulture Eggs in Abandoned Mine near Nile Landing

Ruellia pedunculata?

Ranunculus harveyi (Harvey's Buttercup)

Some of the Ten Thousand Trout Lilies ( probably Erythronium rostratum)

Cindy keeps the Bluff from crushing Mary Beth

Stream Team at Pigeon Creek 3-17-2026

We had about a dozen NCAMN members at Stream Team today. Among them were our leaders -- Karen W and Rob P. Then we also had Bill, Kathy, Ed, Barb, Curtis, Rob C, Pam, Lorrie, Mark, and me. Other people took pictures of participants for Ignite. My thing was taking pictures of bugs . . . .

Not sure what that says about me!

A Cranefly with some others

An adult Mayfly with a Sow Bug (Asellus aquatics), a Water Penny, and a Mayfly nymph

What's that on the right? A Caddisfly?

Mayfly (Isonychia bicolor) and ???

Two Mayflies and a Caddisfly

A Damselfly (Odonata calopterygidae) and others

A Mayfly (Isonychia bicolor) and ???

Love Among the Stars -- Fred Berry Nature Center, February 9, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30

 Link to my presentation

2026 NiT Lecture - Protecting and Observing the Night Sky

 Click on link

Saturn and Its Disappearing Rings

 

Here is a link to my presentation at BioBlast 2025.