It’s interesting that while north Georgia is at the northern end of the range of this small bird, I only recall seeing it visit us during the winter. Either it’s attracted to our feeders during the winter due to reduced forage in the winter, or I’m just missing it. I’ve really enjoyed the visits.
Brown-headed Nuthatch - Sitta pusilla
What a difference a few weeks with some warm weather makes! On Feb 13 we made a trip to The Pocket and there was still a little snow on the ground and no sign even of Harbinger of Spring. I made a quick trip down to The Pocket this morning to check on the status, and the wildflower season has begun! Read on…
Sharp-lobed Hepatica – Hepatica nobilis
In the past my good friend Dave Ridge and I made a point to get at least one winter backpacking trip in each year, and for several years had our annual “Piece o’ the AT Winter Hike.” For various reasons we hadn’t been able to do that for several years, so I was pumped when Dave called to invite me along with a couple of other guys for a 2-nighter – and the scheduled worked. This past weekend we hiked around 17 or 18 miles in the Smokies, including a great side-trip up Rocky Top.
Rocky Top
Even though I’m sure these have been around our feeders for quite a while, I’m going to claim “lifer” for them. I previously thought they were goldfinches, but recently saw Pine Siskins (probably on Twitter) and realized that these are different.
Continue reading
This is what our “bluebird” birdhouse looked like last year, the first year it was up. Things are more hopeful this year. Read on to check out the prospective occupants checking out their prospective digs.
Continue reading
I’ve been concerned about a couple of potential issues as the audience for USWildflowers.com grows, and while the jury is still out on the effectiveness, I hope they’ll be helped a bit by using a CDN – Content Distribution Network. I doubt this will interest most folks reading this journal, but I want to get it down “on paper” as a record of when and why.
Continue reading
The “Northern” in “Northern Mockingbird” (Mimus polyglottos) seems strange for a bird now found throughout the United States, especially since in the past the range did not include the northern part of the country. Turns out, however, that there is a cousin species, the Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus,) found from southern Mexico down into Brazil, so I assume that would be the “southern” mockingbird.
In any case, this bird, full of personality, is one of our year-round residents. This one was on a post at Reflection Riding Aboretum in Hamilton County, Tennessee on January 3 of this year, and appears to be enjoying a meal of an insect.
We took advantage of some beautiful but chilly weather the past two weekends with a couple of short trips down to The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain. The picture from yesterday is a pretty good status update: still winter.
Continue reading
Deptford Pink, a non-native, has been added to the USWildflowers database (02/12/2011.) Scientific name is Dianthus armeria. It is listed as an invasive species by some authorities. It’s also known by the common name Mountain Pink, although that common name (as happens often with common names) also applies to another species (Centaurium beyrichii.) Photo below was taken in Haywood County, NC on July 12, 2010.
Deptford Pink – Dianthus armeria
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) on a snowy day in early January.
Continue reading