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A Few Of The Birds That Enjoy Smooth Sumac
The berries of Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra), popular with many birds. Birds that entertain me as they come by to eat the berries. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). A bird that I see as it comes to eat these berries. Northern Flickers are often at the Smooth Sumac, downing the berries. Sometimes showing off their yellow…
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A Bunch Of Cardinals
Northern Cardinals
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Dreaming
The weather is like spring rather than the winter that I love. I might as well be dreaming about the season to come. April, with a Confederate Violet (Viola sororia priceana) and a Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea). Soon to be reality.
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Haircap Moss
Haircap Moss (Polytrichum).
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Delicate Fern Moss
Not a fern, but a moss. Delicate Fern Moss (Thuidium delicatulum), found up here in the woods, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Mosses are non-vascular plants, plants that absorb water and nutrients through their leaves. Those leaves harvest carbon dioxide and sunlight to create food using photosynthesis. This moss, Delicate Fern Moss, can be found…
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Frogs In Winter
Yes, frogs in winter. The beginning of February. I’m watching the calendar and the pond. They’ll be here soon. They seek shelter under the leaves that fall in autumn, and survive being frozen by what seems like magic. They increase their blood glucose levels, which acts as an antifreeze. But with daytime temperatures rising to…
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Caught Caching
A dear friend of mine, a bit ago, asked me about birds caching. I just happened to catch this Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), doing just that, caching some food for better times. Caching is hiding food away to retrieve and eat later in the season. The Red-bellied Woodpecker will hide away acorns, nuts including whole…
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Winter Resident
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). They don’t come to my feeders, but I often see them at the birdbath. While they’re here during the winter, they eat berries. While they’re away during the breeding season, they eat insects and invertebrates. Wondering if they’re finding any to eat now. Though it technically is winter, it sure has…
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Gray Catbird At The Birdbath
A Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) surprised me this morning. A bird I seldom see, it was at the birdbath quenching its thirst. This Catbird eats insects and invertebrates when they’re available, also eats fruits and berries. I’m particularly bewildered because when I do see a Gray Catbird, it is normally during the summer. This is…