November 1, 2026
At the bird bath, caught in the early morning light. I’m glad to see this winter resident. A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus).
The Hermit Thrush, during warmer times will spend its time looking for insects, caterpillars, spiders and earthworms on the forest floor, but as the weather becomes cold, it will change its diet to berries and fruit.
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October 31, 2026
Lots of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooming in the park yesterday. Half way through the trip till I noticed any, but then I was seeing it everywhere. Blooms that look like they’re made of yellow coconut shreds.
This species of Witch Hazel blooms from mid-October through to early December. As you might imagine, there are not many pollinators during bloom time, since it’s so chilly. Flies are the most common visitors, including fungus gnats, hover flies, fruit flies, and blow flies.
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October 30, 2026
Today, a trip up in Shenandoah National Park, along Skyline Drive with a picnic lunch. Oh so beautiful up there!
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October 29, 2026
I was on my way back up the mountain after yoga this morning, and I had to stop to get a picture of this stunning tree. A Red Maple (Acer rubrum) at the peak of the leaf color season.
Yum.
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October 28, 2026
Today, peak of the season. Spectacular colors all around. I had an errand to run over in the Shenandoah Valley, which took me up through Shenandoah National Park, which matched the leaf color on my mountain. Pure pleasure.
Here, rusty red White Oak leaves (Quercus alba) with a few of them still green, also a few bright yellow leaves of Redbud (Cercis canadensis).
What a day.
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October 27, 2026
I went out this afternoon to put out more hulled sunflower seeds and some dried mealworms for the birds, and called to them as I always do. Often a few Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor), or Chickadees (Poecile), will arrive at a tree close by. They’re the bravest of the birds and will often cautiously come within 10 or 15 feet of me to see what I’m up to.
Today though I had a surprise when a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) joined in on the greeting party. I wasn’t anticipating the need for a camera. This picture is from just a couple years ago, to let you know what they look like.
What a surprise!
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October 26, 2026
Sitting in a Flowering Dogwood tree (Cornus florida) surrounded by berries. An Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe). Usually they spend the winter around the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the southern states, including parts of Texas and Mexico, but not always.
Over the years there have been some that decided to stay here rather than moving south. When they choose this option, they modify their eating habits, including berries and small fruits, rather than eating only insects.
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October 25, 2026
In golden yellow, Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), heralding in the end of the season. A tree that I don’t see at this elevation. But it seems to grow aplenty in the higher elevations. I love to see them no matter what the season. They remind me of Vermont.
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October 24, 2026
A Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) at the birdbath. I haven’t seen any this year, but they have been heard. I’m keeping an eye on the birdbath, hoping to see one very soon. This picture is from October 2016.
I can never tell from year to year if I’ll see one of these little birds because they participate in irruptive migrations, which means their migration is irregular and unpredictable, not happening on a fixed annual schedule. They depend more on their food supply than the usual triggers of migration. And they will often only migrate short distances.
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October 23, 2026
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) providing a rich crimson to the colors that are getting more prominent in the woods up here every day now.
Virginia creeper is a perennial, woody, deciduous vine in the grape family (Vitaceae). It is native to eastern North America and south to Mexico.
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