11-APR-2011
Comfrey leaves
More signs of spring with the emergence of these comfrey leaves. It won't be long before they are big enough to flower, providing nectar for many early insects. Considered an invasive species for their habit of spreading through natural areas (they are indigenous to Europe), we will be digging up some here and there at the FWG, but it is not a top priority invasive for us.
11-APR-2011
Scathophagid fly
This pretty yellow fly was feeding on the maple sap that I photographed other insects on recently. Today there was one Andrenid, lots of cluster flies and a couple of these guys. It has a drop of sap affixed to the tip of its face! There were honey bees flying around the willow flies by the pond, but not much else. It was very, very windy and while warm the sun was having a hard time coming out.
08-APR-2011
Andrenid bee on sap
Another view, this one head-on, of the tiny (less than 1/2 an inch) bee.
08-APR-2011
Cluster fly (Pollenia)
Lots of these flies around the sap on a maple tree at the Fletcher Wildlife garden. Cluster flies are in the family Calliphoridae (Blow Flies). Unlike most of the blow flies, these guys have a lot of yellowish hairs on their thorax. They are parasite on earthworms and overwinter as adults, which is why we see them so early in the spring.
08-APR-2011
Red squirrel
This rather scruffy little gal is the one who chased the chipmunk off.
08-APR-2011
Chipmunk
This chipmunk was very funny to watch. He popped up out of his burrow, scampered across and under some piled up dead vegetation, then raced back toward me at full tilt. He screeched to a halt (when I took this photo), looking up at me, then he ran beside me, turned around, raced back toward me and for a second it looked like he was going to climb my leg! Eventually, he wandered off, but quite slowly. He only picked up speed again when a red squirrel appeared and gave chase.
08-APR-2011
Tree swallow on nest box
Another nest box, another tree swallow.
08-APR-2011
Tree swallow on nest box
The swallows are back at the FWG! Now that is really a sign that spring is entrenched :-) There were about 6 to 8 flying over the pond and above the old field.
08-APR-2011
Andrenid bee on sap
One of the earliest bees to be found in our area (along with honey bees, nomada bees, and colletes bees). This tiny little one was feeding hungrily on maple sap.
08-APR-2011
Willow flowers
The willow at the pond is starting to flower! Yesterday there was not a sign of flowers, so that shows you how quickly they flower, and if we continue with this warmth, the flowers will erupt and with that, the pollen seeking early insects will descend!
08-APR-2011
American robin
Robins were all over the place today, including at the FWG, calling constantly. This was one of several by the pond.
08-APR-2011
Black-capped chickadee
I made a short stop at FWG this afternoon, hoping that the warm weather would have brought in tree swallows (there were none yesterday that I could see), and sure enough there they were! What a welcome sight. There were also numerous robins, song sparrows singing everywhere, a half dozen bohemian waxwings, and I could hear common redpolls but didn't see them (saw them yesterday). This chickadee was one of several plucking what looked like insect cocoons from the big willow by the pond.
