Monthly Archives: April 2011

Western Tanager #Birds #WingsOnWednesday

We’re heading back to Idaho in early June to meet a new grandson, who should arrive a couple of before weeks we get there (if he’s not, Lynn will probably have some harsh words for him.)  In anticipation of the upcoming trip, I thought of the many Western Tanagers we saw while out there last year about the same time.  Apparently the tanagers hanging around last year was due to the unusually late spring; too cold to move on to their normal summer territory.  I don’t expect the same good fortune this year, and am grateful for last year’s opportunity.  Here are a few photos.

Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

Wild Azalea and #Butterfly #WingsOnWednesday

My wife and I took a ride up Estelle Mine Road on Pigeon Mountain on this past Saturday.  We wanted to go back to a spot to see a very vibrant batch of Wild Comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum) that we had spotted the week before with only a single blossom open.  Turned out to be a great drive.  Not only was the Wild Comfrey fully blooming, but we saw many other wildflowers, including our first ever encounter with Yellow Honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) and the bicolored form of Bird’s Foot Violet (Viola pedata.) 

My wife captured a photo of this butterfly in flight at a Wild Azalea plant.  I think it was actually leaving the plant at the time, but I like it because it looks like it’s dive-bombing the azalea.

Butterfly at Wild Azalea

Butterfly at Wild Azalea

Update on The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain

My wife, a grandson, and I took a trip down to Pigeon Mountain to check out an old minesite, but that was just an excuse.  We couldn’t avoid a walk around the boardwalk part of Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail.  Other than the time with my wife and grandson Joseph, who is learning his wildflowers well, the highlight along the boardwalk for me was the beginning of the wild hyacinth bloom.  Photo by Joseph Ibach.

Wild Hyacinth; Atlantic Camas - Camassia scilloides

Wild Hyacinth; Atlantic Camas – Camassia scilloides

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Update on The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain

It was a beautiful day today, and I got to make a brief trip to The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain (with author Jay Clark, but more on that later!)  This is just a quick update on what’s blooming now.  The dominant species is probably the Bent White Trillium – Trillium flexipes.   But read on for more.

White Trillium, Nodding Wakerobin, Nodding Trillium - Trillium flexipes

White Trillium, Nodding Wakerobin, Nodding Trillium – Trillium flexipes

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