07-MAY-2013
Ichneumonid wasp (Ophion sp.), female
One of about 4 Ophions found on the walls and windows of the interpretive centre early in the morning. According to Bug Guide, they are attracted to artificial lights, which would explain their presence near the security lights on the building. These wasps are parasitic on moth caterpillars.
07-MAY-2013
Daffodils in early light
It is just about 6:30 a.m. and the sun is making an appearance in the Backyard Garden, where there are multiple clumps of daffodils. These non-native garden plants are attractive to many insects, providing a lot of nectar.
07-MAY-2013
Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Last summer, I planted many pearly everlasting plants in a section of the old field habitat. Some already had american lady caterpillars on them. I am very happy to see these plants looking well and healthy.
07-MAY-2013
Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum)
The mayapples are doing well in the ash woods. They have spread, though not quickly, and form a nice layer of attractive foliage. The attractive white flowers are difficult to see, as they hang below the leaves and you need to get down on your hands and knees and peer underneath the plants to see them. Another name for this plant is Mandrake.
07-MAY-2013
American Toad (Bufo americanus)
Sandy sends the following note: "I was watering the plants in our nursery this evening when the soil in one pot started to move - as if the plant was trying to get out. A closer look revealed a small toad wedged in next to a butterfly weed. Another (in the photo) had nestled into a pot of clematis, probably keeping cool and moist on this hot, dry day."
07-MAY-2013
Green heron
The heron arrived just about on schedule. Early May is when we expect to see this lovely small heron at the garden. This one was calling from various locations around the site - breeding season is here and he wonders where the female is.
It was a hot day at the garden, and as the sun rose more birds became active. By the time I left I had seen the following: yellow warblers, song sparrows, white-breasted nuthatch, black-capped chickadees, tree swallows, brown-headed cowbirds, american goldfinches, house finches, american crows, mallards, american robins, starlings, blue jay, cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, common raven, blue-gray gnatcatcher, downy woodpecker, northern flicker, red-breasted nuthatch, eastern phoebe. Flying overhead was one double-crested cormorant and lots of canada geese and ring-billed gulls.
07-MAY-2013
Red-winged blackbird female gathering nest material
So far, only a few pairs found in the pond, the females of each busy building nests. It is quite an intricate process, and last spring I was able to observe this while remaining out of sight. Such a lot of work, threading the long strands of grass around last year's cattail stems, flying off to gather more material, repeating the process, again and again, non-stop until the nest is ready.
07-MAY-2013
Yellow warbler
Always a pleasure to hear the first yellow warbler song of the year. When they have just returned they are calling loudly and frequently, and just as frequently, flying all over the garden, from low down in shrubs to high up in conifers. Soon enough they will begin nesting, usually 4-5 feet up in a shrub, an intricate little cup-shaped nest made of plant fibres.
07-MAY-2013
Yellow-rumped warbler
Saw only one yellow-rumped warbler, and as they are usually seen in small flocks when not breeding, I kept looking for more, but there was only this one. They don't nest at the garden.
07-MAY-2013
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
An absolutely dreadful photo - my apologies. It is only here as a record of this species being found at the garden today, a new species for the FWG list, and a relatively rare to uncommon bird in the region. I heard it calling vigorously, and was able to easily locate it, but getting a photo was difficult for it was perched high up and constantly moving. It did not stay around long.
07-MAY-2013
Brown-headed cowbirds, male
There were four of these guys together, giving their squeaky door call and doing their little bow as they did so. I know many people do not like these parasitic birds, but I find them handsome.
07-MAY-2013
Red squirrel
This red was exhausted by all the activity taking place in his home. Or at least, that is how I anthropomorphically interpret this pose. A few minutes before, he'd been sitting hunched up as above him four male cowbirds were carrying on - screeching and fluttering and making a to-do. Eventually they left, and he ventured out along this branch, when in came a yellow-rumped warbler, almost landed on him, and began hopping along a branch just over his head. The squirrel sank down in this exhausted pose!
