Rua's Office Finch

House finch nest with 4 chicks that hatched last Friday April 15th and survived the tornadic weather of April 16th.

Hummingbirds and Swifts

Saw first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year yesterday afternoon. Saw a male at the feeder again this morning. They also really like these crossvine flowers:

Chimney Swifts arrived in the neighborhood on Monday April 11th. None in the chimney yet.

Yard Blooms

Swift Creek April 8

Jack in the Pulpit

Foam Flower


Fowlers Toad


Wild Geranium

Swift Creek April 4, 2011

Spring Migrants

First spring migrants were in the backyard Sunday:
Yellow-Throated Vireo
Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Also heard a Louisiana Waterthrush and a Blue Gray Gnatcatcher at Swift Creek.

New yard bird on Sunday:
Four Double-Crested Cormorants flew over.

March Fly Dispersal

March fly sp. (Family Bibionidae) had large dispersal event in front yard yesterday. Many (all?) were males.

Swift Creek March 18th

Bloodroot. Sanguinaria canadensis.


Liverwort. Hepatica acutiloba.


Trout Lily. Erythronium americanum.


Trout Lilies. Erythronium americanum.



Spring Beauty. Claytonia virginica. Purslane family (Portulacaceae)


Cutleaf Toothwort. Dentaria laciniata. Mustard family (Brassicaceae).

Duke Forest

Trout lilies, lichen, and some hepatica in bloom.

A Little Snow This Morning