13 May 2009
Great blue heron
France saw this heron in the Arboretum, where it has been hanging out most days. Yesterday I saw it flying from the Arboretum over the FWG, and then circling back again to the Arboretum.
13 May 2009
Bumblebee
These big queen bumblebees are quite common now. Yesterday I saw one entering a hole in the ground underneath a tree. Soon we'll be seeing the workers.
13 May 2009
False solomon's-seal (Smilacina racemosa)
This native plant is spreading quickly in the Ash woods. France caught the flower buds still unopened.
12-MAY-2009
Rose-breasted grosbeak, male
Not taken at the FWG, but nearby. However, I saw one of these beautiful birds this morning at the garden. Orioles were singing from all over the garden, and males and females could be seen in many places. The green heron was back in the pond, yellow warblers were checking out potential nest sites.
12-MAY-2009
Common raven
Two ravens were calling and circling over the garden for at least 10 minutes, followed by a retinue of crows eager to see them off! This photo is not great, but it does show the distinctive silhouette of the raven with its wedge-shaped tail.
12-MAY-2009
Great blue heron
Down in the Arboretum a great blue heron was in the stream near the Canal.
12-MAY-2009
Serviceberry flowers and leaves (Amelanchier sp.)
I can't believe how much is in bloom. Every day things leaf out and blossom, while for other plants their blooming for the year is over already. It seems like only yesterday that we were waiting for any sign of green to be poking above the soil.
12-MAY-2009
Stop and smell the flowers
Chipmunks, amongst many other creatures, love the fresh leaves, buds, flowers. Here is a photo of one munching the plum blossoms.
09-MAY-2009
International Migratory Bird Day 2009
Today was International Migratory Bird Day, always the second Saturday in May. The forecast was for rain and thunderstorms so I was worried that nobody would turn up, despite the pleasant weather of the early morning hours when there was even sun. However, 23 people did assemble for the walk, fewer than we've had in recent years, but a good crowd given the weather predictions. The walk was once again very capably led by Peter Fuller.
09-MAY-2009
International Migratory Bird Day 2009
The rain began about 10 minutes after the group set out. Light at first, it soon became a steady downpour, but they remained out for about another hour. And not surprisingly because the birding was really good! Peter found all sorts of neat things including a scarlet tanager, a green heron, yellow warblers, rose-breasted grosbeak, white-crowned sparrows, etc.
Here is a list of birds submitted by Peter Fuller:
Ring-billed gull
Mallard
Great blue heron
Green heron
Red-tailed hawk (possibly, but too far too see well)
Tree swallow
Northern rough-winged swallow
Rock pigeon
Mourning dove
Northern flicker
Hairy woodpecker
White-breasted nuthatch
American crow
Blue jay
Common grackle
European starling
Red-winged blackbird
Brown-headed cowbird
Scarlet tanager
American robin
Gray catbird
Warbling vireo
Chestnut sided warbler
Black-throated green warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Yellow warbler
Nashville warbler
Black-capped chickadee
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted grosbeak
American goldfinch
House finch
White-crowned sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Song sparrow
Additionally, Peter had the following species on the same day before the walk began while scouting out the area: Canada goose, Killdeer, Barn swallow, Pileated woodpecker, Downy woodpecker, Red-breasted nuthatch, Eastern kingbird, Baltimore oriole, Blackburnian warbler, Ruby-crowned kinglet, White-throated sparrow, Savannah sparrow.
So, all in all, a pretty respectable list of birds for a showery morning.
09-MAY-2009
Crow in birdbath
While the birding group was out birding, this crow was taking the opportunity to have a drink in the BYG birdbath.
