Only The Third Sighting

February 23, 2025

What a delight to spot this critter this evening. This is only, if my memory and photos are correct, the third sighting of a Bobcat (Lynx rufus) in the area of the cabin.

I discovered this one just as the sun was thinking of going down, which corresponds with it being crepuscular. They’re solitary creatures. Varying in length from 25 to 40 inches and in weight from 25 to 35 pounds.

Hoping I’ll see it again soon.

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Strong Tail Feathers

February 22, 2025

Woodpeckers’ robust tails help them as the descend a tree trunk or work at drumming a hole into the side of a tree. They have stronger tail bones, lower back bones, and muscles that support those bones than other birds.

Here, a Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) in the snow a couple days ago. Notice it is using its tail for support.

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A Hermit Thrush On A Snow Day

February 21, 2025

A winter resident here in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). As the snow was coming down steadily two days ago it was in a typical stance flipping up its tail and slowly lowering it over and over again.

Though they eat insects during the warmer months, in the winter they stick to a diet of berries.

The Hermit Thrush is a dependable visitor to my birdbath.

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Another Snowy Morning

February 20, 2025

It snowed all day long yesterday, leaving 2.5 inches of snow on the ground. This morning it started back up again but didn’t last very long. Today, just a dusting. Among the birds out looking for something to eat, I counted 13 Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis). Beautiful accents of color against the black and white landscape.

It’s interesting how Cardinals get their beautiful coloring — through their diet. Eating red and purple fruits which contain pigments called carotenoids. These pigments color their feathers and even their beaks.

So nice to have these red birds around.

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An Owl In The Snow

February 19, 2025

A Barred Owl (Strix varia) showed up as the snow was coming down on this mighty cold morning. It sat there just looking around for perhaps ten minutes before disappearing.

Owls are thought to be nocturnal but that’s not always the case. Barred Owls are often seen during the day in winter. They’re crepuscular, or most active at dawn and dusk.

I enjoy when there is an easy mnemonic for a bird call and this is the case for the Barred Owl. It simply says, “Who cooks for you. Who cooks for you all?”

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After An Absence Of A Few Weeks

February 18, 2025

A bit more than a month ago I saw seven Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) gathered at the birdbath. They were enjoying the water which was not frozen on a very cold day.

Not any since then until today when I caught a quick glimpse of just one. Just checking things out I suppose. Hoping more will show up again soon.

When I’m watching please.

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Winter Tree Identification – Bark!

February 17, 2025

Winter and tree identification leaves me looking at the bark. This is Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), a tree that is quite common here. The tree produces a chemical, juglone, in all its parts.

Juglone creates a toxic reaction in other plants. An example of its effectiveness is at the yoga studio where I hang out. There are perhaps three Black Walnut trees there. Under the trees and in the immediate surrounding area there is only grass, and no other plants or weeds – nothing.

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It’s Frog Time!

February 16, 2025

Loads of big winds today making lots of noise coming through the woods. I was surprised to hear and recognize the familiar, “Clack! Clack! Clack!” despite all the sounds of the wind. That “Clack” sound is the male Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) joining in their mating call. A sound that always surprises me in the middle of winter. Frogs?

Sure enough when I looked out at my tiny pond there they were. Males cruising the surface of the pond, calling.

Wood Frogs are remarkable in that they literally freeze during their hibernation. Even in Alaska where they are the most common amphibian in the state. They choose to hibernate in leaf litter which warms up sooner than ponds where other frogs species hibernate. This allows them to emerge sooner than other frogs, during mid to late winter.

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More Ice Today

February 15, 2025

Today ice on Bluebery bushes

Today another ice day but this time a slow rain with temperatures fluctuating right around 32º. Not too much. Not nearly as exciting.

Ice on Flowering Dogwood February 6th

The ice that knocked out the power on February 6th was much more beautiful. Much more awesome. That’s okay. Perhaps there will be fewer trees damaged this time ’round. And the power will stay on. I hope.

We shall see.

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