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Frequent Visitor
Captured here, in its classic pose. A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis). It often will start at the top of a tree, going down head first, looking for insects, nuts and seeds, and invertebrates. Sometimes it will stash away what it finds, in a crack or crevice in the tree bark, carefully covering it with moss,…
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Sulphur Dust Lichen
There are many rock walls up here in the mountains, including some that are around my cabin. This one, above, is a tenth of a mile long, reflecting an enormous amount of hard labor to create. These walls are reminders of how intensely farmed this land was. A remarkable thought considering how rocky and how…
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¡Por Fin!
Or, in English, FINALLY! Freezing rain during the night, ending with nearly an inch of snow over everything. Here, an image from this afternoon. I am pleased as Punch! _____________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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Ruffle Lichen
Lichens, such beautiful and intriguing things. Not a plant, not an animal. A combination of two organisms, a fungus, and a alga or cyanobacterium. This particular one, Salted Ruffle Lichen (Parmotrema crinitum), found growing on a tree branch. _____________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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Woodpecker Colors
My first thought when I think of the color of woodpeckers is black, white, and red. Though that is not always the case. This woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), is a good example. Look at it and, “Well, almost,” comes to mind. The breast of the bird, in a herringbone pattern, black and pale…
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Lichens
So much to get one’s brain around in this world of nature and how it works. In this post I’m trying to understand Lichens. They’re not plants, nor animals. They are an alga and a fungus living in an association which benefits both of them, or a symbiotic relationship. The fungus has a root that…
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Goldfinches In Winter Garb
The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) molts twice during the year. In the autumn they exchange all their feathers, one by one, for new feathers. A slow process, so that they can continue their lives as they normally do. Eating seeds, flying about, and staying comfy warm. During this autumn molt the female goes through the…
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Accent Color For Winter
A Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), with marcescent leaves of White Oak (Quercus alba). The winter landscape (Feb 21, 2015) with its perfect accent color, scarlet. _____________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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American Beech In Winter
Holding their tan leaves through the winter until spring, American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), is one of a few trees around here that are marcescent. Others include Oak, American Beech, Hornbeam, Eastern Hophornbeam, and Witchhazel. Marcescence is a name that scientists have given to the process which they have described in detail, explaining what happens. But…
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Appalachian Bellflower
Appalachian Bellflower (Campanula divaricate). An herbaceous perennial that can grow to 28 inches tall. This Bellflower is found mainly in the Appalachian Mountains, and is native to the eastern US. Bloomtime is July, August and September. Those flowers, of just 1/3 inch, can be found in shades of white, pink and blue. Totally enchanting. _______________________________________________________________________…