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 it will all average out.
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 a chuckle, which absolutely enchants me. During those wonderful winters, when I get to see these little creatures (a bit smaller than the White-breasted Nuthatch [Sitta carolinensis]), I am taken by their lack of concern of my presence as I bring seeds out to feed them. Peering at me and coming closer as if to say, “Hello! Is that for me?” How could I not fall in love!
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, and care in decorating. Those needles are Oh! So sharp! But still, that marvelous color, that perfect shape. And those strong branches to hold ornaments that would make other branches sag way down. Yes. A wonderful tree.
Watching them grow from year to year. Watching the bears come and snap some of the trees in half in pursuit of the ants that go after the aphids that love Christmas trees. Seeing them develop into – perfect for the living room – trees.
Such joy in growing Christmas trees. Such pleasure in growing them right here. More need to be planted and soon. More trees for more Christmases.
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 buddies. The two of us. Best friends. And these days snow takes me back to my childhood where happiness starts.
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.
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.
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 delighted to have them return. The birds of winter, a favorite part of my favorite season.
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 time. This picture from early in that great winter, December 20, 2009. Wonderful memories.
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 Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, California, Texas and northern Mexico at elevations from 3,200-7,500 feet. It’s a hemiparasitic plant, meaning it contains chlorophyl and performs some photosynthesis but obtains part of its water, or nutrients from its host plant.
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. It hybridizes with many other species of Oaks. That’ll complicate things a good bit.
