Hermit Thrush About to Migrate

March 15, 2026

One of my winter residents, a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), striking a pose for me on a post. You can’t see its tail and back color. A warm reddish-brown set against its olive-brown back. Two different colors.

A color placement that allows for comparing it with two other similar Thrushes, Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrush. The Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) has a uniform back, wings, and tail of warm olive-brown, while the Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) has back, wings, and tail of grayish-olive.

This might be the last picture I’ll get of a Hermit Thrush this season, since they begin their migration in late March through early April. I’ll see you next autumn Hermit!

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Ready To Go In The Oven

March 14, 2026

Happy Pi Day. Actually not PIE DAY, but I’ll take this as a hint to get a pie created. This one, made from blueberries that grow here, a blueberry pie that is all set to go into the oven. 425° for 15 minutes, and 375° for 45 minutes longer and it will be done. Add vanilla ice cream and all set!

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Bloodroot In Snow

March 12, 2026

Yesterday and today, two days to remember. What weather. Yesterday it got up to 87°. That’s mighty warm for mid-March, then at midnight it was only down to 75°, by lunchtime the temperature had dropped to 32° and it was snowing. By the time the flakes stopped pouring from the sky — 2.5 inches on the ground. There has never been that span of temperature from warm to cold in Charlottesville as long as records have been kept.

And this afternoon I captured a Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), in the snow, waiting for sunshine and warmth. They stay closed when there is no sunlight and no warmth, in order to protect their pollen.

A remarkable couple of days.

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An Enchanted Forest of Yellow

March 11, 2026

Driving back up the mountain this morning, I noticed that Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is in bloom. The woods are awash with its yellow blossoms that lean a bit toward green. A gorgeous time to see the many trees of the forest, nearly all still with no leaves, just the splash of yellow sprinkled about.

In thinking of a title for this post, I thought of how the forest looks enchanted. That brought back memories from my childhood, growing up in Maryland, visiting Enchanted Forest. But that is another story for another time.

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The Joy Of Spring

March 9, 2026

Yellow symbolizes sunshine, joy, happiness, and energy. And that is what it conveys to me as I see these, first of the spring Daffodils (Narcissus). Delayed a bit by our extremely cold weather, along with the snowcrete, but now in bloom. These the first, there are other varieties that will bloom later, spreading their joy across the landscape.

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A Woodcock In The Woods

March 8, 2026

An American Woodcock (Scolopax minor). An amazing creature.

Here, a photo with better lighting to see its handy beak. Their beaks are usually between 2.5 and 3 inches long, with a prehensile tip that is sensitive and flexible. The Woodcock uses its beak to probe soil, hunting for earthworms and other invertebrates, which it can detect using its sensitive tip, and will grasp its prey thanks to the flexibility of that tip.

What talent!

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American Goldfinch Ultimate Seedeater

March 7, 2026

The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) the ultimate seedeater. Enjoying the seeds of Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta).

I leave my gardens during the winter, to be cleaned up in the spring. That leaves the seedheads as a source of food for the birds all winter long. And I can always depend on the Goldfinches to be the ones most often taking advantage of the situation.

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Mourning Cloak Butterfly

March 6, 2026

Generally an adult butterfly has a short lifespan of just 2 to 4 weeks. The longest lifespan of an adult butterfly in North American is that of the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), from 10 to 12 months.

In order to accomplish this, the Mourning Cloak overwinters as an adult. They seek shelter from the winter weather in tree crevices, or wood piles.

I’ve been seeing Mourning Cloaks out already, enjoying the early March weather. As the seasons go by, keep in mind that you may see one of these butterflies on a warm midwinter day.

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