Snowy Scences From The Bird Count

I know, I know--it has been over a week since I posted . . . but I've been playing in the snow! Seriously, the stuff just isn't going away--maybe it is hanging around for more . . . one can always hope! Here are a few shots I took while helping with the inaugural Catawba Valley Christmas Bird Count. Alisha and I had the "non-lake Alexander County" section. There are lots of farm fields, stream crossings, and the only mountain in the count circle--Barrett's Mountain. It is 1,867 feet and offers quite the view of the surrounding countryside and Brushy Mountain range in the distance!

We saw several White-tailed Deer. They were quite comical and snorted and stomped at us to leave . . . and we did.
Here is one of the many creeks feeding into the Lower Little River which feeds into the Catawba River about a quarter of a mile past Riverbend Park's boundary. You can see there was still PLENTY of snow on the ground and made for a few "interesting" turn-around moments on some out of the way back roads. Thank heavens Alisha has a 4-wheel drive!

We were hoping to perhaps find a Grouse on top of Barrett's Mountain . . . as it would be about the only shot in the count circle at finding one . . .but alas, all we turned up were tons of Turkey Vultures. Other highlights of our list (just the non-lake Alexander County portion) included Pipits, Brown Creeper, Swamp Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, and lots and lots and lots of hawks. I guess with the snow cover they were more visible or maybe stayed perched longer? Anyway, we had 8 Red-tails, 6 Red-shoulders, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Sharp-shin, 1 Kestral, and perhaps our best bird all day--a male Northern Harrier looking very dapper against the backdrop of pines.

Oh, and I had a moth on my window when I got home last evening! December 28th and still getting moths--who would have imagined? I am pretty sure it is another Fall Cankerworm Moth like the one in the previous post. But it is just so cool to see one flying with the weather being as it has this season!

A Pair of December Moths!

I was surprised (and very, very happy) to find not one but two different species of moths this week! I can't believe they would still be flying with the weather that we've been having . . .but I am certainly not complaining! This first moth--whom I think is a Bruce Spanworm--Operophtera bruceata [EDIT: I have since been made aware that this is more likely a Fall Cankerworm Moth--Alsophila pometaria]--was found INSIDE my vehicle when I got to work this morning. Just imagine the odds of that . . .

I took several photos on different backgrounds to try to bring out the wing patterns. Above, what stands out to me, is the venation in the wings. Below, you notice the white-ish "spots" on the outer wing. I know there is a proper term for that particular "spot"--but I'm still learning!

The second moth was found by my boss during our office Christmas party. He quickly came to get me and I had my dear husband scoop it up with the only net we had available--my daughter's pink Barbie butterfly net. It was too cute--but I guess you would have had to have been there!
This one I'm not sure about at all. I was leaning toward the Carpet Moth family . . . but it is really too worn for me to even make a guess. [Edit: This is most likely a Green Cloverworm Moth--Hypena scabra--thanks Parker!]

And lastly, I leave you with a bonus! I found this terrific cocoon attached inside a huge multi-flora rose that I was trimming to let our Leadplant have it's light back next spring. My first thought was hummingbird nest--but then reality sunk in (it is way too deep for a hummingbird nest--but, hey, I was dizzy from bending over and chopping limbs--okay?!). I did send the photo to a friend who thinks it is a Polyphemus Moth cocoon. It is absolutely stunning how intricately woven together it is. Nature is amazing.

Creep, Creep, Creep'n Along!

WOW! The Brown Creeper is one of my favorite little birds ever (probably #2 on my list). Yesterday--between rain showers and Sharp-shinned Hawk feeding runs--"my" Creeper kept visiting the suet.
Every time the Sharpie would make a pass, the Creeper would plaster itself to the side of the tree and remain there for long periods of time--long enough for me to "sneak" up on it and snap a few shots before I made it nervous enough to move. Then I would back off and let it feed again.

It always amazes me at how tiny and exquisitely patterned they are. I don't think I could ever tire of seeing them--even if they were the most common species around.

Pseudo Snow

As I said yesterday, I love snow. I wanted it to snow so bad . . .and they had called for it all week . . . and then--NOTHING. Well, rain isn't "nothing"--it is good for a lot of things--but I felt a little "let down". My reward came this morning though--not as snow--but as frost that LOOKED like snow!

The entire park was literally blanketed by a thick layer of frosty whiteness. It was beautiful.

I guess with all the rain from yesterday combined with the brisk 25 degrees this morning--it was bound to happen.

This is the Green Trail out towards Eagle Point. I think it was the frostiest spot of all this morning. There were lots of birds flitting around in the frozen blackberry brambles. All the usual suspects plus a Brown Thrasher--which wasn't a total surprise but not a very common bird this time of year either.

The Coral Berries were frozen . . .

The Asters were frozen . . .
The Goldenrods were frozen . . . and so was I before I got back to the office! BRRRR! I put on a pot of coffee and got the bins ready for Project Feeder Watch which we do on Sundays and Mondays around the feeders.

Rainy Day Wildlife

Rainy days are great! (Even though I really wanted the snow they were calling for all week!) But I love going out into the woods right after it rains! You get to see some great things--and there are no crunchy leaves to tell the natural world that you are coming! Rain drops on River Birch limbs along the Catawba River . . .

"Twin" River Birchs deformed by floods many years ago along the River Trail . . .

A little brown 'shroom growing along the trail . . .

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet flitting amongst the branches . . .

A close-up of Saw-brier berries . . .

Rose-hips from one of the "pink" blooming Multiflora Roses along the trail . . .

A squirrel eating dogwood berries . . .

And a deer crossing the river! I had to get back to the office because it was starting to rain again--but I can't wait to try again for a Barred Owl or a Mink or an Otter (or two!) Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

A December Walk

I was rather surprised to find so many different types of fungi out in the park today. I guess, technically, it is still fall--but for all intents and purposes it FEELS like winter! Tomorrow's forecast is 2 to 4 inches of snow and the high today was in the low 40's. I caught quite a chill and had to make a pot of coffee when I got back to the office . . .

Here are some lichens on a dead River Birch limb. The entire limb was completely covered in different types of lichens and fungi. I wish I knew more about lichens . . . .perhaps I'll see if there is a guide out there somewhere.

Lots of tracks in the mud due to all the rain we've had. I think the one above is a Coyote track. It could be a dog--but it was not on a trail--it was off of a deer path that I followed in the cut over area and it seemed more likely to be a Coyote.

Lots and lots and lots of White-tailed Deer tracks! They seemed to be in every soft sandy spot I found.

The Raccoon tracks seemed to only be around the creeks. Quite a few of them around the swollen stream coming out of the wetlands. Lots of little birds out there too! Several Winter Wrens, a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a Wild Turkey who peered at me from the midst of the River Cane and then disappeared in an instant.

I found these beautiful shelf-type fungi growing along the Blue Trail just past mapstand #22. They were absolutely exquisite.

Close-up of the gills . . .

And of the top . . .

You can actually see Barrett's Mountain (one of the highest points in Alexander County) during the winter from the Blue Trail. It is nice to have the view since there isn't much else to look at!

And finally, here is "Hitchhiker Rock" as we affectionately call it around here. (Don't you think it looks like a fist with its thumb stuck out the the left?) It is a great spot to go and sit and ponder life. It doesn't hurt that there are a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers who frequent the area and it has the densest population of Viburnums in the park. Lots of birds love to eat the Viburnum drupes in fall so it is agreat spot for migrating Thrushes, Tanagers, and Grosbeaks.

Suburban Sanctuary

I spent the weekend working over at one of our other parks--St. Stephens Park. It is a small neighborhood park with a dog park, small playground, and a 1/3 mile nature trail through the rather nice 10 acre woodlot. I was surprised to see so many different berries, grasses, and fungi in such a short walk. Birds were everywhere flitting about. Most were things you see everyday--but I did have one Brown Creeper who I watched for 10 minutes or so as it creeped up one tree and then flew down to the base of another to begin the process over again. This is a great spot for kids--it gives them a taste of real recreation with the playground and walking trail with a touch of real nature in the middle of suburbia for a nice balance. If you haven't made it over there yet--you really should!

In case you may be interested in seeing the parks newsletter that I've been lamenting about doing (really, I don't mind--it is a labor of love)--you can check it out here. Let me know what you think!