The Prehistoric Turtles of White Rock Lake, Dallas

If there is an exposed log in White Rock Lake, it will soon become littered with a seemingly endless number of basking turtles, both big and small. Turtles are ectothermic (cold blooded) which means that they rely on the temperature around them to regulate their body temperature. Although turtles are mainly aquatic, basking on a log or rock is a way for them to warm their bodies.

Turtles basking on a log at White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX

White Rock Lake has a number of different species of turtles: Red Eared Slider, Yellow Mud Turtle, Missouri River Cooter, the Common Snapping Turtle, and the Mississippi Mud Turtle.

The turtle in the image below is a Missouri River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna metteri). It's a strong swimmer with webbed hind feet. Their shells are dark, and some Cooters have the most exquisite, intricate yellow patterns as you can see from the image below.

This turtle was swimming in a creek that feeds Dixon Branch Creek. Luckily, the water was clear so the pattern is visible.

 

A Missouri River Cooter turtle at White Rock Lake, Dallas

Did you know that turtles are some of the oldest reptilian species on the earth?

Turtles have remained virtually unchanged for 200 million years or more, so show these critters some respect! They date back to the dinosaurs, and still retain many traits that they used to survive back then. 

Fishing is popular at White Rock Lake and quite often turtles will bite on a baited fishing hook. The poor turtle below has a fishing hook stuck in its mouth! This image was captured from a bridge in the park that spans Dixon Branch Creek.

This poor turtle in Dixon Branch Creek has a fishing
hook stuck in its mouth

Turtles may spend most of their lives in water, but they are air breathing animals and need to come to the surface to breathe from time to time, as the Red Eared Slider below is doing. This image was captured from a bridge in the park that crosses Dixon Branch Creek.

Red Eared Slider turtle coming up for air at White Rock Lake

All turtles lay eggs. It is interesting to note that with several species of turtles, temperature in the nest will determine the dominant gender of the young: warm nests producing primarily female turtles, and cooler nests producing mainly males.

Several smaller turtles sharing a tree limb in Sunset Bay
White Rock Lake

The Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) seen below is a medium sized turtle that loves to bask in the sun, but is very difficult to approach. When they see you coming, they quickly disappear into the water. They have a prominent patch of red on both sides of the head. They are sometimes referred to as a “pond slider.”

Red Eared Slider turtle basking on a log at White Rock Lake

Turtles live for a long time, and some of them live for longer than 100 years.

A turtle emerges from the murky depths of Sunset Bay, intently
watched by a curious goose

Migrating Canadian Geese Arrive at White Rock Lake

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Today, some migrating Canadian Geese arrived at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX, a temporary resting stop on their long journey northward. These huge, attractive wild geese have a black head with a white “chinstrap,” black neck, and large black webbed feet with a brownish-gray body.

A pair of Canada Geese perched on a log in Sunset Bay

The visitors were not exactly welcomed by the permanently resident Chinese Geese, who constantly tried to chase off the Canada Geese. Unfortunately for the local fat, overfed waterfowl the tough-looking visitors were quite aggressive when they needed to be, and not intimidated by the local geese.

A pair of Canadian Geese resting under a shady tree at Sunset Bay
White Rock Lake

The Canada Goose, Branta Canadensis, is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America. They breed in Canada and the northern United States, and are mainly herbivores. Their diet includes green vegetation and grains.

 A visiting Canada Goose strolls along the water's edge at Sunset Bay

During the second year of their lives, Canada Geese look for a mate.  They are monogamous, and most couples stay together for their entire lives.

 A lone Canada Goose beside a pool of water

Canada Geese are often recognized by the famous V-formation when flying in a flock.

 

Canadian Geese taking in the panoramic view of White Rock Lake

Canada Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918. In terms of this Act, it is illegal to harm or injure a goose (or damage or move its eggs) without a Federal permit.

Canadian Geese swimming in Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake 

Waterfowl love Sunset Bay because it is sheltered. It is officially classified as a wetland, and harbors an array of colorful ducks and other water fowl. 

Cooling off on a hot day, this Canada Goose looks at home
in Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake

White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas is on the migration route from Canada to Mexico. 

The Butterfly Effect and How it Applies to YOUR Life

While walking around White Rock Lake ingesting the natural beauty, it’s easy to become both intellectually stimulated and introspective at the same time. This time of year, the lake is flooded with magnificent butterflies going about their business, making a huge contribution to the well-being of mankind.

 Variegated Fritillary Butterfly visiting a Firewheel
Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake, Dallas

While bending down to examine some wildflowers, a butterfly flew by, its wing touching my cheek as it did so. This got me thinking about “The Butterfly Effect,” and how we are all affected by this theory.

In 1961 a meteorologist, Edward Lorenz, was entering data into his computer so that he could rerun a weather prediction. He needed to enter wind speed, air pressure and temperature into three separate equations. Since he was in a hurry, he decided to take a shortcut on a number in the sequence so he entered the decimal .506 instead of entering the full .506127.

Lorenz was a scientist and he knew this would change the result of the weather prediction, but he expected only a very minor change. He was astounded to discover that this seemingly insignificant change had made a huge difference in the final result of the predicted weather pattern. 

 An American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) butterfly on a Firewheel
Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake

In the process, Lorenz had stumbled upon a theory that has subsequently become known as “The Butterfly Effect.” 

Lorenz and his cohorts started considering the question: “Does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” This theory has been applied to many areas of science ever since.

So how does The Butterfly Effect apply to YOU?

Every decision you make, no matter how tiny and insignificant it may seem at the time, has consequences. Every choice you make in life has the potential to change the direction in which your life is heading. Wherever you are right now in life is the consequence of all those decisions, both big and small, that you have made throughout your life.

If you want to change your life, change the way you think.  

        

Super Predator Seen Swimming in White Rock Lake, Dallas

Tragedy at White Rock Lake

The contents of this blog post have been removed. It covered a man swimming across Sunset Bay from the vicinity of Dreyfus Club at approximately 6:30pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The blog post ran a commentary on this man’s swim, as well as a series of pictures.

This evening, we discovered that it had been reported in the press that an unidentified man drowned at White Rock Lake at approximately 7:00pm on Wednesday evening, apparently near the shores of Dreyfus Club. It has been assumed by this blog that it was the same man about whom we blogged, and that in all likelihood he decided to swim back to where he started out earlier in the evening. Presumably, he had left his clothing there.

Due to the sensitivity of this matter and the tragic event that subsequently occurred, it was decided to remove the blog post.

We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the drowned man.

Absolutely Awesome Wildflowers Continue to Bloom at Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake, Dallas

These wildflowers were all found in the Winfrey Point area at White Rock Lake in east Dallas, TX. The images were taken today after the morning rain, and yesterday.

Prickly Poppy (Pink)

Indian Paintbrush

Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea Cyanus)

Firewheel or Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly pollinating the wildflowers

A field of assorted yellow wildflowers at Winfrey Point,
White Rock Lake

Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea Cyanus)

Pollen is running down this dying Prickly Poppy after the morning rain

Lazy Daisy (Aphanostephus skirrhobasis)

Prickly Poppy (Red)

Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea Cyanus)

A dying Firewheel (Indian Blanket) wild flower

Looks like a Tickseed (Coreopsis)

Firewheel wild flowers growing in a field at White Rock Lake

Phlox Red Drummond (Phlox Drummondii)

Clasping Coneflower

Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) 

Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)

Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea Cyanus)

Prickly Poppy (Red)

Pearls of water adorn this wildflower after the early morning rain

Spider milkweed aka Antelope horns aka Green-flowered milkweed (Asclepias asperula), with flowers just beginning to open

The view below is from Winfrey Point, and overlooks White Rock Lake. Downtown Dallas, approximately five miles away, can be seen in the distance.

The view of downtown Dallas from Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake,
with wild flowers in the foreground

And to think that this urban oasis is in the midst of a thriving metropolis!

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It’s the Time of the Season When Love Runs High – at White Rock Lake

“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?” 


How many of you remember the 1968 song by the Zombies, “Time of the Season”?

Right now, as you walk around White Rock Lake in east Dallas, you cannot help but start singing the lyrics of that song: “It's the time of the season … When the love runs high …”

Spring is the time of the year when Mother Nature pushes the “get amorous” button. In the words of the song, “It's the time of the season for loving.” And the birds, animals and insects at White Rock Lake are taking it seriously, as though their very existence depended on it.

These Variegated Fritillary butterflies were mating yesterday, flying around from plant to plant, locked in passion, on the hill above Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake.

Mating Variegated Fritillary butterflies at White Rock Lake

Milkweed Bugs mating yesterday near Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake

These fish were spawning in Dixon Branch Creek, just before it
enters Sunset Bay

If you're interested in aeronautical acrobatics and copious amorous activity, go find yourself some dragonflies. They are always fun to watch. These two dragonflies were answering nature's call in the tiny stream that runs into the lake from the Dallas Arboretum.

Mating dragonflies at White Rock Lake

 Mating feral pigeons at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake

Mating Mallard ducks on the east shore of White Rock Lake

The female Mallard felt so violated with the entire ordeal that she felt the need to shower afterwards. The male Mallard looked on, not quite understanding the need to bath.

In the words of Neltje Blanchan: “Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?” 


In case you were wondering what the song sounded like, you can listen to it here: Time of the Season

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