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Rose Hips in the Rain
These are rose hips of Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora). An exotic invasive. Unwelcome but certainly looking lovely in the rain. The rain has stopped now, leaving much too little. Our last rain was eighteen days ago and much too little then as well. One of these days it will rain, lots of rain, and then…
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Irruption of Red-breasted Nuthatches
The term irruption when applied to birds is the sudden change in population density of a species of birds. Usually precipitated by lower than normal food supply. It’s this phenomenon that brings a precious tiny bird to my yard every few years. The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). I like to think of its call as…
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Christmas Trees
For more years than I can count we’ve grown Christmas trees in two large fields here, below the cabin. Trees that we’ve planted. Norway Spruce (Picea abies), White Pine (Pinus strobus), Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Concolor Fir (Abies concolor), and my absolute favorite Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens). That Blue Spruce, needs care in handling,…
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Me and My Snowman
Today there was an extremely small chance of snow flurries in the forecast. Not wanting to set my expectations too high, I wasn’t expecting any. But luck was with me! I got to see FOUR snow flakes! That’s enough to bring pure glee to my heart. Snow and I go a long way back. Good…
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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…
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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…
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Winter Visitor – Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
It was a good morning for birding, including spotting my first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) of the season. This is a male who was happy to model for me. These woodpeckers for the most part eat arthropods, along with fruits and berries, tree sap, nuts, bast (inner bark of trees), and tree buds. I’m always…
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Tracks in the Snow
Looking through my photographs, deciding upon an image to use for this year’s Christmas card. That task brought this photo to my attention and many good memories — during the winter of 2009-2010, 72 inches of snow fell at my cabin. It was such great fun. That winter is my very favorite winter of ALL…
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Mistletoe in Arizona
Juniper Mistletoe (Phoradendron juniperinum). Looking back at photos from a trip to the Southwest. Such a wonderful part of the country. I love to roam out there. To find new plants and animals. This, a species of Mistletoe that I was not familiar with. Juniper Mistletoe is a plant that grows on Juniper trees in…
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Northern Red Oak
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra). A grand cacophony of glee. The last of autumn. The Northern Red Oak is quite common in a good part of eastern United States and southeastern Canada. If you are trying to figure out the various Oak species, the Northern Red Oak is going to send you quite the challenge.…