Category: Caterpillars

Purple Finch

A bird that I rarely see. Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus). Not an unusual bird, but one that just doesn’t show up here on my mountain. In all my years of capturing images of birds, I’ve only had two occasions to photograph a Purple Finch. Once in 2010 and once in 2017.

The Purple Finches that spend their summers in Canada, seek warmth during the summer in the central and southeastern US. Those that live in the northeastern US and on the Pacific coast choose to stay put year round. Sure wish they’d swing by here more often. I’d love to see more of them.

Winter Arrival of the Hermit Thrush

Seems every day I’m seeing another of my winter birds. This one, my treasured Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). A medium sized bird with a magical, flutelike song which it doesn’t bring along on its winter visit. It saves those lovely notes for summer, choosing to blend in and not make too much of a noticeable presence while in the black and white landscape of winter.

Out of necessity it also changes its diet, going from being an active hunter of yummy crawly things such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, true bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, and earthworms to what winter offers up to birds of winter, berries.

You can see in these pictures that the Hermit Thrush enjoys Smooth Sumac berries to dine on. Other berries they enjoy include Elderberries, Pokeberries, Serviceberries, Grapes, and Mistletoe berries. These are plants that I have in my yard or would certainly consider adding, just to invite more winter birds to come visit for the winter.

Robins in Winter

Just a couple days ago an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) stopped by for a drink at the bird bath here at my cabin. It’s not at all unusual to see Robins here during any month of the year, even during winter.

During the summer earthworms, snails, spiders and other arthropods make up much of their diet. They change their habits when the seasons change.

Yes, some Robins do migrate, but many also roam from place to place in large groups looking for their winter meals, not necessarily heading south to warmer weather.  Often I’ll see many Robins and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) together enjoying berries of Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana). They’re on the lookout for other fruits and berries too, of hollies, crabapples, hawthorns, and others.

Don’t think, when you see Robins in the middle of winter that spring is on its way. Spring will arrive on its own schedule and it has nothing to do with Robins.

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Euchaetes egle). This caterpillar just might alarm you if you’re growing milkweed with Monarch Butterflies in mind. No need to worry though. The Milkweed Tussock Moth and the Monarch Butterfly have grown up in the “same neighborhood” side by side, sharing the bounty. Both butterfly and moth caterpillars are eating a poison contained in the milkweed called cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) to provide protection, making both creatures distasteful to birds and bats. As adult moths, the Milkweed Tussock Moth is able to communicate with bats emitting an ultrasonic click which bats take as a warning to stay away. Mighty clever.

Those of us who are growing milkweed to help the plight of the Monarch Butterfly might consider that the Milkweed Tussock Moth would appreciate our help as well. The photo above gives you a glimpse of Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars in various stages of development. Let them dine at the milkweed plants with the Monarchs!

Frost

It was the coldest morning so far this autumn. At 32° not extremely cold but cold enough to please this lover of winter. Driving down the mountain on my way to yoga the changing leaves delighted me with their warm colors. Water running through the gravel and dirt of the road hadn’t gotten an opportunity to freeze. It will be ice one of these mornings soon. As I got to the lower elevations, into the pools of colder air I was a greeted by a delightful expanse of scintillating frost covering everything. Even house’s roofs were covered with it giving the impression that snow had fallen. At the yoga studio I was able to take closeup pictures of what seemed to be a dusting of sparkling sugar. So nice to have the class get me up and out to see such things.

More Hickory

Continuing on a thread that I started yesterday. These nuts are Bitternut Hickory. All Hickory nuts are edible but with this one, as the name implies, is one that you might want to skip. There are much better nuts in the woods.

Some moths have the Hickory tree as their host plant. One that is often seen in the fall is the Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar. Those long hairs are used as protection against predators and may irritate the skin of sensitive individuals. Use caution.

Another moth caterpillar that uses the Hickory tree as their host plant is an incredibly large one, the Hickory Horned Devil. Growing to 5.5 inches to 6 inches in length, it’s the caterpillar of the Regal Moth. Despite its size and amazing look the caterpillar is totally harmless with no poisonous spines.

The Regal Moth, the adult of the Hickory Horned Devil is of course large as well and can fill the space of a hand, with a wingspan of 4 to 6 inches. There are also butterflies that use Hickory trees as their host plants including Hickory Hairstreak and Banded Hairstreak.

Right now as autumn blazes through those Hickories are waiting to be discovered. Get out and look for the amazing golden glow, and compound leaf. Could be a Hickory.