It’s mid-February, in what’s called the “dead” of winter. However, life is very much alive. Much of it is just in rest mode. Black Bears (Ursus americanus), Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are napping. Fish in lakes and ponds have slowed down and spend a lot of time at the bottom. Also atContinue reading “The Leopard in Winter”
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Leaves Are Not Litter
Winter is upon us and it is a snowy day in mid-January, but I can still hear in my mind the roar of leaf blowers that were buzzing as recently as last month. Using leaf blowers and removing leaves in our yards may seem like a good idea, but there are many reasons to rethinkContinue reading “Leaves Are Not Litter”
Keep an Eye Out for This Beetle
My wife has a keen eye for the little things. We were walking on our local bike path the other day and she spied a beetle on the pavement. She is always helping critters cross the greenway. Turns out this beetle wasn’t so little. At up to an inch and three-quarters (4.5 centimeters) long, thisContinue reading “Keep an Eye Out for This Beetle”
Not So Red but Admirable
Spring has sprung in full form and many of Connecticut’s ephemeral wildflowers have now finished their frenzy of flowering before being locked in shade by newly emerging, bright green leaves of trees. A few weeks ago I was fortunate to see one of the early spring butterflies in my yard: an adult Red Admiral (VanessaContinue reading “Not So Red but Admirable”
That Wasn’t An Eagle You Heard
You might think during these dreary, gray winter days that nature is dormant and there is not much to see. But here in Connecticut, and throughout much of the country, hawk-watching is easy. Hard to believe, but one of the best places to see hawks in winter is from your car. Please, keep your eyesContinue reading “That Wasn’t An Eagle You Heard”
Greenery in the Winter Woods
On this Winter Solstice, the forests are now colored in various shades of tan and brown here in southern Connecticut. But here and there are patches of green. Whether they signify rebirth, a new life, immortality, or peace, plants that are still green have played an important role in almost every holiday celebration, particularly duringContinue reading “Greenery in the Winter Woods”
They May Be Dragonflies, but They Certainly Ain’t Draggin’
It’s mid-October. The Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) are on fire this year, with deep oranges and ruby reds. You might think that most of our migrant birds have all gone by now, but that’s not true. Among others, I have been seeing flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata) feeding on the berries of Spicebush (LinderaContinue reading “They May Be Dragonflies, but They Certainly Ain’t Draggin’”
Touch Me If You Dare
In traditional Irish music, there is a tune that goes by the title “Touch Me If You Dare.” The same can be said for the Spotted Touch-Me-Not (Impatiens capensis). This plant gets its common name from its fruit, which when ripe pops and releases its seeds. It’s fun to get those mature, bulging fruits, calledContinue reading “Touch Me If You Dare”
While You Were Sleeping
Thousands are flying through the night now. As the dog days of summer hit Connecticut, complete with heat waves full of hot, humid weather, drought, and nights filled with the raucous, sharp, three- or four-syllabled buzzing of the Common Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia), you might not usually think of birds flying south. But they are. ThisContinue reading “While You Were Sleeping”
The Charming Thistle Bird
Have you heard the joke that the state bird of New Jersey is dead. Being from the Garden State, I sometimes tell that one. Actually, the New Jersey state bird is the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), a colorful, permanent resident native to a large part of the US. In mid-summer, when the nesting season beginsContinue reading “The Charming Thistle Bird”
Beyond Your Back Door 