Welcome

To all those interested in the natural world. Please add your sightings.

In the woods we return to reason and faith-Emerson

Best-Lynn

Sunday, March 30, 2014

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3-30
There is at least one Woodcock back in my neighborhood, although it is not doing much performing yet.
John

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

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3-25
Today's new avian arrivals are Brown-headed Cowbirds. Cowbirds are brood parasites - they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds - and are often reviled by bird lovers.
However, right now any and all signs of spring are welcome, including cowbirds.
Red-tailed hawks in my neighborhood are sitting on eggs and crows are adding twigs to their nests.
Spring is creeping north!
John

Sunday, March 23, 2014

It's coming.  It's coming.  The bears are awake.  Saw these prints yesterday.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

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Yesterday a Common Grackle joined the Red-winged Blackbirds at my feeders.
A Sharp-shinned Hawk also returned, much to the consternation of the smaller birds.
Some years a Sharpie will stay all winter hunting passerines at my feeders. This year I had not seen one for three months!
This morning a Northern Flicker moved through with a flock of 30 - 40 robins that stopped in my yard. Flickers are ant specialists so I don't know what this one was finding to eat although I have in the past seen them pick up suet crumbs under feeders.
John

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

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A few Skunk Cabbage are putting up new growth. The mottled spathe (pictured) shelters the spadix which is covered with tiny yellow flowers. These are the first wildflowers of the year!
John

Saturday, March 15, 2014

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3-15
Down along the West River, Song Sparrows are dividing the thickets into territories and singing in defense of their claim.
Tom Turkeys are strutting their stuff. The hens are not yet receptive. All the show is for other toms. They're sorting out the dominance hierarchy.
And two or three very nervous Red-winged Blackbirds were hanging around my feeders this morning!
John

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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The first Turkey Vulture that I've seen this year was working its way up the West River valley today! It won't go hungry. The winter was hard on the deer herd … and it may not be over quite yet.
John

Monday, March 10, 2014

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Although recent nights have not seemed like ideal moth weather, this Three-spotted Sallow (Eupsilia tristigmata) was at least briefly airborn. According to the field guide, three-spotted sallows often fly "on warm nights during winter." I found this one road-killed along Route 30.
John

Saturday, March 8, 2014

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A gray squirrel "tapped" this maple limb. Sun and wind do the evaporating. The squirrel will return periodically to savor the sugar… along with bits of bark, lichen and a dusting of road grit!
John

Friday, March 7, 2014

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As I had not seen either of the local raven pair at my compost pile for the last week or ten days I assumed that they were nesting. This morning I confirmed my suspicions; one raven was sitting on the nest, the other lurked quietly in the area.
And in a stagnant West River backwater algae has turned the water thickly green! The food chain is rebuilding, even as snow and cold linger.
John

Monday, March 3, 2014

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This recently returned Hermit Thrush was hunting for invertebrates in the leaves along a nearby brook. Like most thrushes, Hermits also eat a lot of berries.
They are also very hardy. I've seen an occasional fall hanger-on as late as New Year's day!
John

Sunday, March 2, 2014

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This chipmunk had a comfortable perch about 8 feet up in a rotten beech snag.
Dozens of robins and a few bluebirds were feeding today on both the ice and along the shores of the West River. Perhaps on stoneflies?
John