The Nature Corner

Nature Notes ~ Mid-April

Gorgeous spring week here: highs in the upper 50s and sunny. Today we might hit 70 degrees! ****************************************** Just spent several minutes trying to photograph an enormous woodpecker at the feeders. I have to look him up in the bird guide to be sure of his id but he visits rarely - and is so skittish. I took pictures from where I sat at the table (through a window and window screen) so who knows if the pics will come out. But I knew if I tried to get up close to the window he'd vamoose. ****************************************** Blooming now: forsythia, crocus, daffodils, dandelions, a few flowering trees. ******************************************

Nature Notes ~ Early April

Street sweepers are circling the neighborhood - another clear sign of spring! :) 

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Gray skies, light rain - becoming heavier through the day. Opening Day has been postponed till tomorrow.

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So much happening in Nature just now, I can barely keep up! We've had nightly visits by a skunk (scrubbing around under the birdfeeders) and found skunk scat in the same area. One night we woke to terrible screeching in the woods - and only because we've heard it before at this time of year did we not panic - we think something was mating. The mourning doves are acting all frisky with each other - we found a freshly hatched egg beneath the stand of pine trees out back. I say fresh because there was still - don't read this if you are squeamish - bloody membrane inside. Definitely a dove egg, from a quick google search. A family of blue jays comes to the spruce tree every day - the babies are larger and fluffier than the parents and squawk like crazy for food. The juncos are still around as of this morning, but their days are numbered here. These snowbirds will head north pretty soon. Oh, and the goldfinches! So many goldfinches at the feeders these days; they're feathers are turning vibrant yellow. We can hear the peepers in the woods daily now. Our vernal pond is teeming with life. Crocus is all over the yard and my mum's daffodils are in full bloom. Trees and bushes are covered in buds, looking ready to burst. Temps. have been on the cool side (high 40s through mid 50s) with an occasional day near 60 degrees. On the milder days we'll see a lazy wasp float by and OH! Yesterday we had a bright orange butterfly flit through the yard. :)

Nature Notes ~ Early April

Street sweepers are circling the neighborhood - another clear sign of spring! :) 

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Gray skies, light rain - becoming heavier through the day. Opening Day has been postponed till tomorrow.

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So much happening in Nature just now, I can barely keep up! We've had nightly visits by a skunk (scrubbing around under the birdfeeders) and found skunk scat in the same area. One night we woke to terrible screeching in the woods - and only because we've heard it before at this time of year did we not panic - we think something was mating. The mourning doves are acting all frisky with each other - we found a freshly hatched egg beneath the stand of pine trees out back. I say fresh because there was still - don't read this if you are squeamish - bloody membrane inside. Definitely a dove egg, from a quick google search. A family of blue jays comes to the spruce tree every day - the babies are larger and fluffier than the parents and squawk like crazy for food. The juncos are still around as of this morning, but their days are numbered here. These snowbirds will head north pretty soon. Oh, and the goldfinches! So many goldfinches at the feeders these days; they're feathers are turning vibrant yellow. We can hear the peepers in the woods daily now. Our vernal pond is teeming with life. Crocus is all over the yard and my mum's daffodils are in full bloom. Trees and bushes are covered in buds, looking ready to burst. Temps. have been on the cool side (high 40s through mid 50s) with an occasional day near 60 degrees. On the milder days we'll see a lazy wasp float by and OH! Yesterday we had a bright orange butterfly flit through the yard. :)

Nature Notes ~ Mid-March

3/18/09 We are inching nearer and nearer to Spring ... the goldfinches are yellowing up and the song sparrow is trilling its spring song. There are crocus shoots all over the yard and buds all over the treetops. ****************************************** This week we will visit a Maple Sugaring Farm for our March Nature Club meeting. I'll take lots of pictures to share with you all! ******************************************