Author Archives: Brenda Clements Jones

About Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

Few Dogwood Leaves

As the days tick away, the leaves turn more beautiful with each of those ticks. The Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) leaves however, have been turning from emerald to garnet since the end of June and have begun to fall away. Leaving berries, also known as drupes.

And those drupes gladden many species of birds, along with bunches of mammals. Each of those drupes with high fat, low sugar content. Just what is called for as winter approaches.

Here a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) delights in the buffet it sees on every branch.

Year Round Resident

I’ve not had any bird feeders out for a while, with the exception of Hummingbird feeders. But the birdbaths bring the birds. Today’s bird is a year round resident, the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia).

They have a diet of grass and weed seeds, insects and invertebrates and fruits and seeds. When I have the feeders out Song Sparrows prefer to find their seeds on the ground. I’ll soon have feeders out again. Looking forward to seeing more of the little birds, the winter residents and the year round residents.

Swainson’s Thrush

I saw it yesterday. Thought for sure it was a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). The Hermit Thrush is a common resident here during the winter, but there was something wrong. Something not quite right. I did some digging around on the Internet and was able to figure it out.

Looking so very much like the bird I was expecting to arrive, but not quite. This particular bird is a Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) migrating through on its way to its winter home in southern Mexico or perhaps even going further south in Argentina.

The difference in looks is pretty subtle. The Hermit Thrush has a thin, barely there, white eyering, while the Swainson’s Thrush has a more pronounced ecru eyering. And the difference that I noticed is the coloring of the whole bird. A Hermit Thrush is a rich dark suede gray-brown with a distinctive cinnamon colored tail. This Swainson’s Thrush is pure gray.

I’m hoping I’ll see more as they make their long journey to their winter homes.

Thank You Phoebes

This is an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) visiting my birdbath today.

There are three species of Phoebe that live in North America. The Eastern Phoebe lives in the mainly eastern portion of our continent from the Northwest Territories to Mexico. There is the Say’s Phoebe that lives in the western half of the continent from Alaska to Mexico. And the third, the Black Phoebe that lives on the western coast from Oregon to Mexico.

The Eastern Phoebe is a year-round resident here in the Blue Ridge Mountains where they are on insect duty, eating many insects, caterpillars, millipedes, spiders and other arachnids such as ticks. During the winter they eat berries and small fruits. Being insectivores, I really appreciate having them around.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Migration

Here for the winter? I hope so. I saw a tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) a couple days ago. Normally there are some that spend the winter here. I’m hoping this one is not just passing through.

Their breeding range is far northern North America. They spend their winters in the southern US and the Southwest, some going further south to Mexico. Populations in the mountains of the west take the easy route, just going from the higher elevations to lower elevations where it is warmer.

I’ve never seen them at my feeders but others with feeders have had better luck. These Kinglets eat spiders and insects, as well as berries and seeds. Leaving my gardens go to seed has great benefit. Here, during the winter, these Kinglets are a big fan of seeds of spent Goldenrod and other flower seedheads that I leave for them.

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Black-throated Green Warbler

A migrating visitor yesterday. A female Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) making her way to the birdbath.

An insect eater, especially caterpillars during the mating season. B-TGWs eat berries during migration. Poison Ivy berries being a favorite.

Their breeding territory is eastern North America, western Canada and cypress swamps along the southern Atlantic coast. Their winter destinations are Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and the extreme southern tip of Florida.

Hoping she’ll stop in again, on her way back in the spring.

Pie Tonight

A delicious new pie recipe. Put together, baked, and out of the oven this afternoon. For our dessert tonight. Topped with vanilla ice cream. Oh my! Was it ever GOOD!

Hatch Green Chile Apple Pie

One unbaked 9″ pie crust

Six medium sized apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 2″ pieces. Place into pie crust.

Top the apple pieces evenly with 4 oz. El Pinto Hatch Valley Green Chile.

Pie Topping

  • 1 cup unbleached flour
  • 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream together flour, butter, the sugars, salt and the spices. Sprinkle on top of the apples and Hatch chiles. Bake in preheated 425° oven for 15 minutes. Turn oven temperature down to 375° and bake for another 45 minutes, or until the edges of the pie are bubbling. Let the pie cool, or serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

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Dressed For Autumn

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Putting on an eye catching show in the mountains.

Rich yellows, golds, reds, oranges and purply-browns.

Summertime, they produce a black berry supported by a scarlet cup-like stem. Seldom noticed. They’re there though. Just look for them. But these autumn leaves, no search is necessary. That color can’t be missed.