Wednesday, December 7, 2016
The Fox and the Skunk
An unlikely pair! But last night as I drove up my driveway I saw a skunk being followed by a fox. The skunk seemed in no particular hurry, and the fox just seemed curious. But not as curious as I was! Not wanting to interfere I turned the car off and waited in silence and darkness for a minute, but when I started up again they were still meandering up the driveway. We continued this way all the way to the top. At one point the fox went over and sniffed the rump of the skunk - a dangerous move! I thought there'd be trouble, but apparently the skunk didn't feel threatened enough to take action. The fox was equally unconcerned and went across the driveway to mark the snow on the other side. The unlikely duo continued up the hill, across the front yard, and down the back bank. A mysterious duo providing some interesting wildlife viewing!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
8-23
8-23
Marsh Skullcap is in flower and a dragonfly - probably a Common Whitetail - patrolled the water's edge today.
John
Marsh Skullcap is in flower and a dragonfly - probably a Common Whitetail - patrolled the water's edge today.
John
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| Marsh Skullcap |
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| Common Whitetail |
Monday, August 22, 2016
8-22
8-22
The larvae of Sumac Leaf beetles create fecal shields, which provide them with protection from ants. Extracts from the sumac leaves in the feces keep the ants at bay. Larvae fed lettuce create shields, but receive no protection. Some larvae become totally shielded under their own feces.
John
The larvae of Sumac Leaf beetles create fecal shields, which provide them with protection from ants. Extracts from the sumac leaves in the feces keep the ants at bay. Larvae fed lettuce create shields, but receive no protection. Some larvae become totally shielded under their own feces.
John
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| Sumac Leaf beetle |
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| larvae of Sumac Leaf beetle |
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| fecal shield on Sumac Leaf beetle larva |
Sunday, August 21, 2016
8-21
8-21
Nodding Ladies Tresses are in flower. They are called 'nodding' because the flowers often tip below the horizontal.
Rough Hawkweed is also in flower. There are at least 5 yellow hawkweed species in our area.
Sand Jointweed is putting out its first flowers.
And the seed pods of Blue False Indigo were covered with broad-headed bugs. Perhaps Megalotomus quinqespinosus, a name bigger than the bug itself.
John
Nodding Ladies Tresses are in flower. They are called 'nodding' because the flowers often tip below the horizontal.
Rough Hawkweed is also in flower. There are at least 5 yellow hawkweed species in our area.
Sand Jointweed is putting out its first flowers.
And the seed pods of Blue False Indigo were covered with broad-headed bugs. Perhaps Megalotomus quinqespinosus, a name bigger than the bug itself.
John
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| Nodding Ladies Tresses |
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| close up Ladies Tresses |
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| Rough Hawkweed |
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| Sand Jointweed |
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| Blue False Indigo seedpods with broad-headed bugs |
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| notice the white spot on the antennae |
Saturday, August 20, 2016
8-20
8-20
THis morning near the West River a Monarch butterfly nectared on Joe Pye Weed while I took its picture.
Closed Gentians are in flower. The difficulties that pollinators face when trying to enter these flowers is rewarded by large amounts of very sweet nectar. Up to 40% sugar! Flowers with a white 'cross' showing at the tips of the petals are unpollinated, further enticing insects. Many are pollinated by Bumblebees.
And from the casual demeanor of the juvenile hummingbirds at my feeder I have concluded that the very territorial adult male has gone south!
John
THis morning near the West River a Monarch butterfly nectared on Joe Pye Weed while I took its picture.
Closed Gentians are in flower. The difficulties that pollinators face when trying to enter these flowers is rewarded by large amounts of very sweet nectar. Up to 40% sugar! Flowers with a white 'cross' showing at the tips of the petals are unpollinated, further enticing insects. Many are pollinated by Bumblebees.
And from the casual demeanor of the juvenile hummingbirds at my feeder I have concluded that the very territorial adult male has gone south!
John
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| Monarch butterfly on Joe Pye Weed |
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| Closed Gentian |
Friday, August 19, 2016
8-19
8-19
The odd little orchid called Spotted Coralroot is starting to flower. Coralroots are small, saprophytic and, if not rare, at least easily overlooked.
The less glamorous Green Amaranthus, AKA Pigweed, is also in flower.
John
The odd little orchid called Spotted Coralroot is starting to flower. Coralroots are small, saprophytic and, if not rare, at least easily overlooked.
The less glamorous Green Amaranthus, AKA Pigweed, is also in flower.
John
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| Coralroot |
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| Coralroot plant |
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| Green Amaranthus |
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| Green Amaranthus close up |
Thursday, August 18, 2016
8-18
8-18
Common Morning Glory and Great Lobelia, two garden escapes, were flowering in a roadside thicket today.
Common Clotbur and Three-seeded Mercury graced damper ditches.
John
Common Morning Glory and Great Lobelia, two garden escapes, were flowering in a roadside thicket today.
Common Clotbur and Three-seeded Mercury graced damper ditches.
John
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| Common Morning Glory |
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| Great Lobelia |
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| Three-seeded Mercury |
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| Common Clotbur |
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
8-17
8-17
A Locust Borer was feeding on Goldenrod nectar or pollen today. Larvae of this species bore through the wood of living locust trees. The adult is well camouflaged on goldenrod and also looks enough like a bee or wasp to gain some protection.
The range of this species is expanding as more and more locusts are planted as ornamentals.
The dozens of tiny insects surrounding the borer are, as yet, unidentified.
John
A Locust Borer was feeding on Goldenrod nectar or pollen today. Larvae of this species bore through the wood of living locust trees. The adult is well camouflaged on goldenrod and also looks enough like a bee or wasp to gain some protection.
The range of this species is expanding as more and more locusts are planted as ornamentals.
The dozens of tiny insects surrounding the borer are, as yet, unidentified.
John
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| Add caption |
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
8-16
8-16
Pickerelweed - a plant of shallow water - attracted pollinators before today's rain set in.
A Hummingbird male jealously guarded our kitchen garden although soon he'll head south leaving all resources to the young of the year.
And a butterfly called the Comma because of the white mark on its underwing probed scat for vital minerals.
John
Pickerelweed - a plant of shallow water - attracted pollinators before today's rain set in.
A Hummingbird male jealously guarded our kitchen garden although soon he'll head south leaving all resources to the young of the year.
And a butterfly called the Comma because of the white mark on its underwing probed scat for vital minerals.
John
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| Pickerelweed |
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| Hummingbird |
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| Comma butterfly |
Monday, August 15, 2016
8-15
8-15
Beggar Ticks, AKA Sticktight, is starting to flower. Each flower is surrounded by 5 - 9 leaflike bracts. Later it will form barbed achenes (fruit) that cling to clothing - and dogs.
Sweet Everlasting is showing a bit of color. This is about as showy as the flowers get although they expand when they go to seed.
And Hawthorn fruits … haws? … are ripening. The Flora of Vermont lists 50 species and suggests that amateus defer to experts for identification.
John
Beggar Ticks, AKA Sticktight, is starting to flower. Each flower is surrounded by 5 - 9 leaflike bracts. Later it will form barbed achenes (fruit) that cling to clothing - and dogs.
Sweet Everlasting is showing a bit of color. This is about as showy as the flowers get although they expand when they go to seed.
And Hawthorn fruits … haws? … are ripening. The Flora of Vermont lists 50 species and suggests that amateus defer to experts for identification.
John
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| Beggar Ticks |
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| Sweet Everlasting |
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| Hawthorn fruits |
Sunday, August 14, 2016
8-14
8-14
Arrow-leaved Tearthumb is in flower. It has small clusters of white or pink flowers and tiny back-curved spines on the mid-rib of the leaves and on its 4 sided stem. Thus any attempt at pulling up this species results in lacerations - torn thumbs.
The closely related Halberd-leaved Tearthumb is equally well armed.
Look for them both sprawling over thickets, often in wet places.
John
Arrow-leaved Tearthumb is in flower. It has small clusters of white or pink flowers and tiny back-curved spines on the mid-rib of the leaves and on its 4 sided stem. Thus any attempt at pulling up this species results in lacerations - torn thumbs.
The closely related Halberd-leaved Tearthumb is equally well armed.
Look for them both sprawling over thickets, often in wet places.
John
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| Tearthumb flower |
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| Tearthumb spines |
Friday, August 12, 2016
8-12
8-12
Whorled Milkwort is in flower. I found 150-200 stems along the West River this morning. This is a state listed S1/S2 (rare and unusual) species. A year ago in the same area I found just one stem.
ANd a Yellow BEar caterpillar, the larvae of the Virginian tiger moth, busily consumed a leaf and ignored me as I took its picture. Larval foods for this species are listed as "many low-growing plants, and woody shrubs and trees." Maybe it would have been simpler to list what it doesn't eat?
John
Whorled Milkwort is in flower. I found 150-200 stems along the West River this morning. This is a state listed S1/S2 (rare and unusual) species. A year ago in the same area I found just one stem.
ANd a Yellow BEar caterpillar, the larvae of the Virginian tiger moth, busily consumed a leaf and ignored me as I took its picture. Larval foods for this species are listed as "many low-growing plants, and woody shrubs and trees." Maybe it would have been simpler to list what it doesn't eat?
John
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| Whorled Milkwort |
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| Whorled Milkwort close up |
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| Yellow Bear caterpillar |
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
8-9
8-9
Buttonbush, Floating Hearts and Pert are all in flower.
Buttonbush likes wet feet. It grows on shores and besides swamps.
Floating Hearts are aquatic, growing in several feet of water.
And this patch of Pert grows in a spot which is underwater most of the year, but is damp shoreline in late summer.
John
Buttonbush, Floating Hearts and Pert are all in flower.
Buttonbush likes wet feet. It grows on shores and besides swamps.
Floating Hearts are aquatic, growing in several feet of water.
And this patch of Pert grows in a spot which is underwater most of the year, but is damp shoreline in late summer.
John
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| Buttonbush |
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| Floating Hearts |
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| Pert |
Monday, August 8, 2016
8-8
8-8
Hairy Willow Herb is lending a touch of color to damp thickets and marshy areas. This plant can reach six feet in height.
Slender Gerardia is a lover of dry - and often disturbed - areas.
The Bald Eagle fledged recently from the Townshend Dam nest sat obligingly while I snapped its picture. I suspect it was waiting for an adult to bring it a meal.
And a boldly marked Clymene moth flushed its yellow hind wings when I disturbed it. This one is a bit worn and faded.
John
Hairy Willow Herb is lending a touch of color to damp thickets and marshy areas. This plant can reach six feet in height.
Slender Gerardia is a lover of dry - and often disturbed - areas.
The Bald Eagle fledged recently from the Townshend Dam nest sat obligingly while I snapped its picture. I suspect it was waiting for an adult to bring it a meal.
And a boldly marked Clymene moth flushed its yellow hind wings when I disturbed it. This one is a bit worn and faded.
John
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| Hairy Willow Herb |
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| Slender Gerardia |
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| Bald Eagle fledgling |
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| Clymene moth |
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| hind wings open on Clymene moth |
Sunday, August 7, 2016
8-7
8-7
Both Common Arrowhead and Turtlehead are in flower.
Milkweed Tussock moth caterpillars are chewing up milkweed leaves. As they age these caterpillars develop tufts of black, orange and white hairs.
And a Belted Kingfisher posed nicely for a picture. Bird populations are at their peak at this time of year and birdwatching is easy.
John
Both Common Arrowhead and Turtlehead are in flower.
Milkweed Tussock moth caterpillars are chewing up milkweed leaves. As they age these caterpillars develop tufts of black, orange and white hairs.
And a Belted Kingfisher posed nicely for a picture. Bird populations are at their peak at this time of year and birdwatching is easy.
John
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| Common Arrowhead |
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| Turtlehead |
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| Milkweed Tussock moth caterpillars |
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| Belted Kingfisher |
Saturday, August 6, 2016
8-6
8-6
Common, Aka Black, Nightshade is in flower. Look for reflex white petals and yellow stamens bunched into a 'beak.'
Slender Cottonweed is starting to open. This is a salt tolerant species and can be found on roadsides in SE Vermont. It can also be a bit invasive.
And a moth called the Cherry Scallopshell was flying last night. Larval hosts for this species are Azalea, Meadowsweet and Willow … not cherry!?
John
Common, Aka Black, Nightshade is in flower. Look for reflex white petals and yellow stamens bunched into a 'beak.'
Slender Cottonweed is starting to open. This is a salt tolerant species and can be found on roadsides in SE Vermont. It can also be a bit invasive.
And a moth called the Cherry Scallopshell was flying last night. Larval hosts for this species are Azalea, Meadowsweet and Willow … not cherry!?
John
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| Common Nightshade |
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| Slender Cottonweed |
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| Cherry Scallopshell moth |
Friday, August 5, 2016
8-5
8-5
A tiny little snake crossed my path today, reacting fearlessly to my presence. I was unable to precisely identify the little maneater.
And the densely packed cylindrical flower spikes of Downy Rattlesnake Plantain tower over rosettes of white veined leaves in shaded woodlots. Rattlesnake Plantains are in the orchid family. There are 3 species in our area but this is the most common.
John
A tiny little snake crossed my path today, reacting fearlessly to my presence. I was unable to precisely identify the little maneater.
And the densely packed cylindrical flower spikes of Downy Rattlesnake Plantain tower over rosettes of white veined leaves in shaded woodlots. Rattlesnake Plantains are in the orchid family. There are 3 species in our area but this is the most common.
John
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| snake |
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| close up of Rattlesnake Plantain |
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| Rattlesnake Plantain leaves |
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