Four Louisiana Waterthrush were singing through raindrops this morning from
annually-used territories along the hanging ravines of Paint Creek Gorge
along Alum Cliffs Road just a few miles SW of Chillicothe.

No sign of yellow-throated warblers yet. This is my reliable area for early
arrivals. Many years I've found my first "sycamore warbler" in or near the
large sycamore shading the bridge at the junction of Paint Creek and the
North Fork of Paint Creek.

Strokes of spring have painted flower-spangled green through this
fascinating riparian corridor in just the last few days. Some roadside
bloomers seen from the car window; bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, cutleaf
toothwort, golden ragwort, Virginia bluebells, isopyrum, rue anemone, spring
beauty, limestone bittercress, Greek valerian (just now showing color),
purple deadnettle, hairy bittercress. The Ohio buckeye is opening large
leaves over scouring rush in streambank sand, and white blooming
serviceberry highlights the sandstone rim of the gorge high above.

The extraordinary geology of this place (extreme stream piracy) is best seen
before the trees leaf-out. During a heavy rain, the hanging ravines pour low
waterfalls over shale into Paint Creek. Over 650 species of plants are found
in the immediate drainage of this spectacular gorge.

GEOLOGY IS WOMB TO BIODIVERSITY!

Find this beautiful quiet rural valley along Paint Creek by turning south
onto Plyle's Lane from Route 50 at the Bob Evens restaurant near the west
side of Chillicothe. Follow Plyle's Lane staying right and crossing North
Fork Creek then turn left onto Alum Cliffs Road and follow it to the
cul-de-sac where the road ends at the steep shale walls of Paint Creek
Gorge.

Tom Bain
The Glaciated Allegheny Plateau
Ross County

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