January 14, 2026
Blooming mid-to-late summer, a Tall Anemone (Anemone virginiana).
After the blooms, fluffy seedheads develop which last until spring.
With spring, comes nest building season, and birds, such as this Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus), use the fluff of the seedheads for building their nests.
Another reason to not tidy up your gardens,
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January 13, 2025
A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) in its classic nuthatch pose, upside down.
I love having these birds around with their funny, laughing sound, much like a horn of a tiny, tin toy model T.
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January 12, 2026
A feather caught on the brambles of a Wineberry shrub (Rubus phoenicolasius).
The brambles are sticky throughout the year, even in winter, making them even more unpleasant than their hairy, thorny, red (now brown) stems. The sticky and hairy stems may be a means of protection against small insects, and fruit predators.
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January 11, 2026
Resting in a Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) that has enjoyed the warmish weather the past few days. But today the temperature fell rather than rising, and there were snow flurries, so it’s looking a bit puffed up against the chill.
They are a bird that forages through leaves around low bushes looking for insects. So remember to leave the leaves! They also enjoy adding berries to their diet. They’ll eat berries that are available during the winter, such as Elderberries, Huckleberries, Holly berries, Multiflora Rose hips, and Poison Ivy berries.
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January 10, 2026
Ah! Wonderful rain. There hasn’t been rain since Christmas Day when .08 inches fell well before it was time to get up to see what Santa brought. Now today, almost an inch has fallen, .91 inches to be exact. I think it has stopped coming down. So pleased for the rain.
This picture is of little globes of rain drops hanging on to a spider web that has been spun on Yucca gloriosa (Yucca gloriosa).
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January 9, 2026
Many birds enjoy finding Smooth Sumac berries (Rhus glabra) to get nourishment. In particular I see Northern Flickers (Yellow Shafted form)(Colaptes auratus luteus), often dining on the berries, which are actually drupes. This Flicker is in a pose that allows you to see its bright yellow tail feathers, a nice contrast to the rich crimson of the Sumac drupes.
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January 8, 2026
Many Robins (Turdus migratorius) along with their flocking buddies, Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), up in the Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana).
They’re enjoying the frosty blue colored berries, which are not really berries at all but seed cones. They usually contain one to three seeds. A great food source for both Robins and Cedar Waxwings.
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January 7, 2026
The mid-20th century saw Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) near extinction. What a surprise to find this out, since to me that doesn’t seem so very long ago.
But that is the case, with there being a 90 percent drop in their population due to habitat degradation, and invasive House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), and Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) taking over nesting sites, both cavities in trees and birdhouses. These non-natives birds frecuently kill adult Bluebirds, destroy Bluebird eggs, and kill nestlings as they agressively take over the Bluebird’s nesting area.
One of many programs that have had a huge impact on the Eastern Bluebirds’ recovery is a program with Virginia Master Naturalists. This citizen science project involves working with the Virginia Bluebird Society. Participants track populations of these Bluebirds by weekly checking birdhouses during the breeding season for eggs, hatches, fledglings, and threats from House Sparrows and Starlings. These volunteers build and install bluebird houses, and monitor the Bluebird trails.
Now due to great effort, the Eastern Bluebird population has greatly recovered. Thank goodness.
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January 6, 2026
A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) perching on the garden gate, showing off its russet tail which contrasts to its gray-brown higher feathers. A unique coloring among Thrushes.
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January 5, 2025
Wander and find the amazing world of Mother Nature’s art. It’s everywhere. Go out. Don’t have a goal in mind. Don’t think of miles you are going to hike. Just walk and look closely at the little things. Is that a purple mushroom? What is that pattern in the tree bark? Look at the texture of that rock.
Mother Nature is a marvelous artist. Take your time. Find what she has created.
Here, one of her compositions. White Oak leaf (Quercus alba) on a rippled sheet of ice.
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