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Two Wren Nests At The Moment
There are two active Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) nests here at the cabin right now. One at the front door, in an actual, small, bird house. The other at the back door, in a typical Carolina Wren habit, built in a basket that is hanging from the ceiling of the porch. They are quite creative…
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Worm-eating Warblers
Worm-eating Warblers keep me company as I hike on my mountain, letting me know that they’re on the trails with me with their song. It’s a trill, sounding like an insect, and quite similar to the song of the Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina). They are birds that are in the eastern US for only the…
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Staying Cool
Watering newly planted things in the garden got me out on this mighty hot first afternoon of summer, when I noticed a couple Great Spangled Fritillaries (Speyeria cybele) enjoying the sweet nectar of Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea). As adults Great Spangled Fritillaries enjoy a life much longer than many butterflies. Some butterflies live for a…
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Ghosts?
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is in bloom along the trails up here right now. They have always made me think of ghosts of the people who lived here for thousands of years before now. Reminders of the past. Black Cohosh is a herbaceous perennial that grows quite tall, between three and seven feet tall, one…
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Flowers Of Blue?
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) In bloom right now, beautiful flowers that are native to the continental United States and much of southern Canada. Growing to 5 feet tall and branching about half way up, with spikes, in a candelabra-like way. The spikes become panicles of buds opening from the bottom up. The flowers attract many…
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Orange On Orange
I captured this Orange On Orange this afternoon. A Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) thoroughly enjoying the nectar of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). This creature was dining on the nectar for at least 45 minutes. Quite satisfied with its discovery. Female Great Spangled Fritillaries lay their eggs near violets in August or September. The newly…
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Berries
There are Black Raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) ripening up here. Tempting me as I am out on my hikes. Though Black Raspberries look quite similar to Blackberries, when you look at the berry, where it was picked from the stem, it is hollow. A Blackberry is solid. I enjoy seeing the Black Raspberry bushes with their…