WWOOFing Part 17: Buggy Top BioBlitz
Our second BioBlitz was done on the Buggy Top Trail, south of Sewanee, Tennessee a couple weeks ago. With all the projects going on we haven’t been able to review and deal with the data but we noted over a hundred species, which included butterflies such as the Red Admiral and the West Virginia White as well as two cave salamanders.
The Buggy Top trail itself is really nice, crossing a couple miles of forested flat plateau top before abruptly dropping down the few hundred feet to the Lost Cove Creek as it rushes from the mouth of the Buggy Top Cave entrance. The descent in particular is interesting for its views of the cliffs rising next to the trail and the first sites of the cave entrance from above. Our species inventory continued into the cave itself – which is where the cave salamanders were spotted – and offered us an opportunity to do some exploring in the dark.
Jonathan recording species, Buggy Top Trail, Tennessee
The beginning of the descent, Buggy Top Trail, Tennessee
The cliffs next to the trail on the descent, Buggy Top Trail, Tennessee
Jonathan photographing while I take a GPS waypoint, Buggy Top Trail, Tennessee
A stream that breaks off from Lost Cove Creek, Buggy Top Trail, Tennessee
Exterior of the Buggy Top cave entrance, Tennessee
View from just inside the Buggy Top cave entrance, Tennessee
Another view from inside the cave, Buggy Top, Tennessee
Very grainy photo of a very cool cave salamander, Buggy Top cave entrance, Tennessee
Me in front of the Buggy Top cave entrance, Tennessee
Nice pictures Meghan, you look beautiful!
Thank you, Michael! Hope you’re doing well, Xoxo.