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One Grand Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is an impressive creature. Nearly the size of a Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). I have fond memories of one landing, and working on, a tree within a few feet of my bedroom window when I lived in North Arlington many years ago. It sounded like a human, up in the tree,…
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A Strange Looking Caterpillar
A picture from October of a unique looking caterpillar, a Crowned Slug Moth caterpillar (Isa textula). This little one grows to be 1/2 inch long. They eat the leaves of Oaks and Cherry, Maple, Basswood, Elm and Beech trees. I’ve made it my practice to avoid picking up most any creature that I find in…
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Holly Jolly Time For Mincemeat Pie
It’s that time of year, when the wind whips like crazy and temperatures drop from 57º in the early morning to a chill of the 30s as the sun goes down. At least that’s how it was here today. Time to think about mincemeat pie, made with many more McIntosh apples than are called for.…
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A Noisy Blue Jay
A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), a member of the Corvidae family. They make a lot of noise. Imitating sounds of human activity around them and sometimes even imitating the sound of the human voice. Other birds are part of their quite accurate repertoire, hawks, chickadees, catbirds, goldfinches to name a few. Some would say that…
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Evasive Agaric, A Beautiful Fungus
I am often awestruck by the beauty of things in nature. Mushrooms come to mind when I’m thinking of what is beautiful around me. These saprobic fungi are a good example, reminding me of something made of delicate lace. Saprobic fungi, meaning they break down organic matter. Lovely to look at and they help the…
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A Very Quiet Afternoon
Outside on a very quiet afternoon. No sounds at all except for a call that is not familiar at all to me. Sort of a quick nasally mewy sound. I’m hearing this sound maybe once every couple minutes. Finally I see the source of the calls. It’s a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) further up in…
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Incredible Sunset
Looking through the trees at the horizon. An incredible display of color reveals itself this evening as the sun is setting. The clouds reflecting the color of the sunset to the ground, and me. A matter of just a few minutes later it is gone. Poof! _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily…
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Ever Present
A friendly little critter that sings to me and scolds me without fail. I have read that this is a shy bird. Hmmm. That doesn’t sound like this bird. This is a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), a bird that is always around chattering away. One that doesn’t hold back. It is said that the male…
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A Dusting Of Snow
This morning. First morning light and I was elated to see an exquisite dusting of snow over everything. Perhaps a promise of more to come over the next few months. Above, delicate snowflakes clinging to a crystalline spiderweb. Captured December 9, 2017. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email,…