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One Of Many Favorites
May 21, 2025 Thinleaf Blue-eyed Grass or Common Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), a delight to have around, volunteering here and there. Native to the eastern two thirds of the United States and Canada. Though indeed it certainly looks like a grass, the several species of blue-eyed grass are in the iris family. And another thing…
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Melodious Warbling
May 19, 2025 Oh what beautiful songs coming through the open windows today! A Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) was out roaming and singing his heart out. Delighting me with the sounds of nature. Mockingbirds, Catbirds, and Brown Thrashers are closely related, in the family Mimidae. A family known for being mimics and expert vocalists. The…
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Back From South America?
May 18, 2025 This morning I saw the season’s first Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). They spend the winter months somewhere between southern Florida and northern South America. No telling where this guy has been. Even spending the winter in southern Florida means he was very far from here. They find their way over those incredible…
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A Pair Of Towhees
May 17, 2025 He came by just before lunch today. Splashing around in the birdbath to get those feathers clean. He had enough of the cleaning and went to a perch to shake off the water and get his feathers in order again. A male Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus). Just a couple minutes later, she…
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Elderberries In Bloom
May 16, 2025 Blooming in the lowlands now. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), a large shrub reaching 5 to 12 feet tall, leafing out early in the spring. Large, flat-topped clusters or cymes, of five-pointed, white, 1/4 inch wide, mildly scented flowers are emerging now and soon will be in full bloom up here in the mountains.…
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Carabus Beetle
May 15, 2025 The Carabus Beetle (Carabus serratus), a ground beetle native to North America, in both Canada and the United States. Ground beetles are a large family of beetles, Carabidae, with around 2,000 species in North America. A beautiful beetle, shiny patent leather black, with purple edging. They eat slugs, snails, worms, and insects…