Yard Blooms May 17, 2012

Howell Woods 5/13/2012

Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)

Rose Spiderwort (Tradescantia rosea)

Red Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Black Swallowtail Butterfly in Milkweed

Birds of note:

Summer Tanagers

Orchard Oriole

Indigo Buntings

Prairie Warblers

Yellow Warbler

Chipping Sparrows

Field Sparrows

Mississippi Kite

Around the Pond

 

Yard Blooms May 8th

 

White Oak Creek Greenway

 

 

Birds of note:
Indigo Buntings
Summer Tanagers
Red-Headed Woodpeckers
Common Yellowthroats
Northern Parulas

Chimney Swifts

Heard swifts in the chimney last night!

Previous years they found their way to our chimney on these dates:

April 23, 2011
May 15, 2010
April 15, 2009
2008 arrival not documented

Mason Farm April 29, 2012

Birds of Note:

Chestnut-sided warbler
American Redstart (many males)
Common Yellowthroats (saw many males and females)
Northern Parula
Indigo Bunting (saw many)
Yellow Breasted Chat (lots)
Philadelphia Vireo
heard:
Summer Tanagers
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Prairie warbler
Ovenbird
Red Eyed Vireo
White Eyed Vireo
Acadian Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood Peewee

Butterflies of Note:
Questionmarks
Fiery Skippers (many)
Zebra Swallowtail

Herps of Note:
Black Rat Snake

West Eno River

Brown-Headed Nuthatch Nest

The Brown-headed Nuthatches are actually nesting in the large stump in the greenway this year. And they have nestlings. Saw both parents bring food to the very low nest cavity.

And they have roomates: a pair of Five-lined skinks.

Nest Box Update

All boxes empty at this time.

The chickadees in box 2 had their nest overtaken by ants. One very decomposed chick left in the nest, no other chicks or eggs.