December 30, 2025
Amid a great growth of Broomsedge Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), a water droplet hangs on a tip of growth.
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Water Droplet
Sulphur Dust Lichen
December 29, 2025
The rock wall beside the lane approaching my cabin is nearly a tenth of a mile long, and has been here for about 100 years. It has a special charm about it, other than its remarkable history, with Sulphur Dust Lichen (Chrysothrix chlorina) on many of its rocks. An intense color that nearly glows – brilliant yellow with a touch of green.
This lichen has a powdery texture, preferring to grow in shade, most often on rocks, and on rare occasions on tree bark. It creates a beautiful radiance on my wall with its stunning color.
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Enjoying Peanut Butter
December 28, 2025
A Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) pecking at the peanut butter I’ve put out. It’s quite the popular item for the birds. Sometimes I add a generous amount of cayenne pepper to discourage Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). They can taste it and its heat, while birds can’t.
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A Peanut Butter Fan
December 27, 2025
A few of the birds here know me, and will arrive for their meals, when I put out food for them and then give them a call. This is one of those little critters. A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor).
Peanut butter is particularly popular with many of the birds.
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Northern Flicker With A Mustache
December 26, 2025
This is a Northern Flicker yellow shafted form (Colaptes auratus luteus). See his black mustache? That indicates that he is a male. But of course!
He is a bird that is native to a great part of North America, some of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. Though most woodpeckers don’t migrate, this is one species that does migrate. At least some of them. Those in the northern part of their native range will migrate further south and west during the winter to find more abundant sources of their favorite foods of ants and other insects on the ground. Another of their goals is to find areas with less snow cover, which of course helps to find those ants and insects.
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Merry Christmas From A Thicket
December 25, 2025
Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) seek out tangles of vines, dense shrubs, and thickets. These environments provide protection from predators and the weather. This guy settled in here, in a perfect spot to say, “Hello!”, and to wish you a very Merry Christmas!
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Christmas Eve Tradition
December 24, 2025
For many many years, having enchiladas has been the tradition here on Christmas Eve.
When we moved back to the East Coast, from New Mexico, the only tortillas that could be found were in a can! But the tradition carried on. I started making my own tortillas and things got better. Now fresh tortillas are found even here in Maryland, and Virginia too.
Nothing better than wonderful Mexican food.
Merry Christmas dear friends!
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Mimic Catbird
December 23, 2025
It is grouped together in a family of songbirds known as mimics, the Mimidae family, along with our familiar Mockingbirds, and Thrashers. This is the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).
These clever birds have a repertoire that includes calls and songs known to be of the Catbird, but also imitations of other songbirds, frogs, and noises that humans have around them such as car alarms, cell phone rings and sirens.
It’s unusual for me to see a Catbird up here in these mountains, particularly in the winter but sometimes it does happen.
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A Junco In The Garden
December 22, 2025
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) sitting on a plant cage in the garden posing for the camera.
A winter resident here at the cabin, though at higher elevations, just a few miles away such as in Shenandoah National Park, they are year round residents.
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Shortest Day Of The Year
The seedhead of a Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma), wearing its snow white winter cap. Just waiting for a hungry bird to come along for a meal.
And Happy Winter! Yes, today is the first day of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The shortest day and the longest night of the year.
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