Whitlow Grass

Whitlow Grass

aka - Spring Draba or Common Whitlowgrass

Drave printanière

(Draba verna)
First blooms found this year - March 24, 2017
Photo taken - April 28, 2017

Slender Speedwell

Slender Speedwell

Véronique filiforme

(Veronica filiformis)

First blooms found this year - March 24, 2017

Photo taken - April 28, 2017

(Flower about the size on one's small fingernail or smaller.)

Red Maple Tree

Red Maple

Érable rouge

(Acer rubrum)

First blooms found this year - March 9, 2017

Photo taken - April 14, 2017

Common Chickweed

Common Chickweed

Stellaire moyenne

(Stellaria media)

First blooms found this year - March 17, 2017

Photo taken - April 28, 2017

Coltsfoot

Coltsfoot

Tussilage pas-d'âne

(Tussilago farfara)

First blooms found this year - March 24, 2017

Photo taken - April 10, 2017

Beaked Hazel

Beaked Hazel

aka Beaked Hazelnut

Noisetier à long bec

(Corylus cornuta)

First blooms found this year - March 24, 2017

Photos taken - March 24, 2017

Hairy Bittercress

Hairy Bittercress

Cardamine hérissée

(Cardamine hirsuta)

First blooms found this year - February 12, 2017

Photo Taken - April 19, 2017 - going to seed but still flowering

Brush Pile Sit Spot

In Edwin Way Teale’s book “A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm,” he writes of sitting in a brush pile. The book was written in 1974 and I read it in 2007. Since 2007 I have been thinking of trying to do the same experiment of making a brush pile with space inside to sit and observe nature around me. 

I am not sure how old the idea of a “sit spot” has been around but I had heard about  using a special spot to sit and observe years before and had done it almost every day for a few months. With all that as background, I decided during late winter this year to make a brush pile for my sit spot and to sit at least 10 minutes for starters on as many days as possible.

I started piling brush when there was still snow on the ground by picking up loose branches in the area near the west end of the property. Gradually the pile got larger and larger by only adding a few branches each day. I put the pile next to some deer trails with hopes of someday being in the pile as deer went by. No luck so far but then I have been going fairly late in the day and only spending 10 minutes so I am not expecting much yet. Sometime later I want to spend a few hours in the spot starting before sunrise. That should be more rewarding. Meanwhile, following are a few observations from the brush pile:

No records for the first two sits . . .

Sit 3: Mar. 30, 2017

Turkey just called

Duck calling from being disturbed 5 min ago at willows

Flicker calling 

Train & car noises in background 

Also Crows in background

Hands cold!

Sit 4: 9:20 Apr. 2

far away Crows

moths fluttering 

traffic noise - cars, jet

Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Woodpecker 

Gull

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker calling

Some grasses &moss green - all else grey, Brown

Chickadees 

Sunshine & blue sky 

Sit 5 - Apr. 3 - 9:10

Crows & Song Sparrow in background

(+ Jet & car traffic)

Blue Jay's call 

unidentified bird chips 

Red-winged Blackbirds calling &  Cardinals 

Robins chatting 

Sun breaking through catching spider's Web

(jets & traffic noises never stopped)

Sit 6: Apr. 5, 9:00 a.m.

Crows close  by

Mourning Dove, Robins call 

(Usual traffic noises & jets)

Blue Jays scream 

short, high chips - Chickadees?

scattered clouds with sunshine 

Cardinal calling 

Sit 7: Apr 9: 9:25 a.m.

Wood duck alarm

Crow cawing 

Cardinal & Song Sparrow calling

(traffic noises)

Red-bellied Woodpecker call 

Starlings chatter 

Robin chirps 

Red-winged Blackbirds 

(Usual jet crossing overhead)

unidentified chirps

Sit 8: 9:25: Apr.10:+17° 

(loud train & traffic noises)

(oh yes-jet too)

wind in trees

Flicker, Red -wing Blackbirds 

Geese flying over

Song Sparrow calling

Robin chirping & singing 

Crow cawing 

more wind noise than usual

Sit 9: Apr.12 - 9:07 a.m.

Cloudy +4 (+1)

Goose overhead 

Flicker, Crows, Song Sparrows 

Dog barking in far distance 

(Traffic & Jet)

 Red-winged Blackbirds 

(Train horn, traffic noise > loud)

unidentified chirps 

Sit 10: Apr.14 9:17 a.m.

Sun +7 

Cdn Goose overhead 

Red-winged Blackbirds 

(traffic, jet)

seed fluff floating by 

Towhee?

Song Sparrow 

Mourning Dove 

Crows 

Red-bellied Woodpecker 

Looking Out

Sit 11: Apr 16-9:20

Cloudy +18

Cardinal, Song Sparrow 

Robin 

(Traffic, jet noises)

American Toad trilling 

Field Sparrow 

Red-winged Blackbirds 

Horsetail coming up 

Leaves on Honeysuckle growing

Apple tree leaves just starting 

Garlic Mustard shooting up taller 

Sit 12: Apr 17- 9:25

clear +8

Mourning Dove, Crows, Song Sparrow 

Red-bellied Woodpecker 

(Traffic, jet)

Field Sparrow 

Cardinal 

Buzzing Fly

fast chirping - lower than F.Sparrow 

Red-winged Blackbirds 

Mallard flying over