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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…
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Lawyer’s Wig
Lawyer’s Wig (Coprinus comadtus). A fungus found in Europe, Asia and North America and commonly found in areas that suit its needs, in grassy areas, along gravel roads (which is where I found these), and waste areas. A fungus with an odd method of spore dispersal. As it matures it will slowly turn to a…
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Cardinal Catching The Sun
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Soaking up the sun to chase away the chill. A few flakes of snow are a maybe in the forecast for up here. Birds are mobbing the feeders. __________________________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!