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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…
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Coker’s Amanita
Coker’s Amanita (Amanita cokeri). A mycorrhizal mushroom, meaning they will share a symbiotic relationship, or mutually beneficial relationship, with hardwoods and conifers. Growing in the soil under the trees that they benefit and receive benefit from. They’ll grow singly or together in groups. Coker’s Amanitas can be found in eastern US and in the Southeast…
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Poison Ivy In The Spring
Early April. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) begins to emerge, ready to tackle another year. Buds that become flowers, arrive soon after the leaves. Flowers that become berries in April will delight hungry birds come winter. _______________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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Buds To Berries
Until I moved here to the cabin, Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) was just a plant that I needed to avoid. Those three leaves – beware. But now I have learned there is so much more to know about the plant. There are buds in May (in the photo above, left). And believe it or not,…
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Eating Poison Ivy Berries
Seems mighty strange but Poison Ivy berries are quite popular with birds. Here, a Chickadee (Paridae) enjoys a snack of what else, Poison Ivy berries. Chickadees, here at my location are just Chickadees. This area is where the range of two species of Chickadees overlap. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) and Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus). They…