Nature features from Rolling Ridge, West Virginia, and the vicinity.
Rolling Ridge is a 1400 acre nature preserve in the eastern panhandle
of West Virginia. I volunteered for a year as a naturalist, spending
my nights in a leaky camping trailer and my days wandering the woods.
Fri Aug 30 07:30:16 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A dung beetle rolled a ball of fox scat toward its burrow.
The beetle walked backwards, pushing the ball uphill with its longer back
legs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thu Aug 22 16:11:37 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The drought is hastening fall. Already a strong breeze
knocked down dozens of yellow Tulip-tree leaves.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue Aug 20 07:43:40 EDT 2002; Ocracoke, North Carolina
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The dolphins leapt in pairs, exposing their tattered
dorsal fins and scarred backs to view.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wed Jul 31 16:36:08 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A crow clung to a small Black Cherry branch, trying to
maintain its balance as it plucked the fruit.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wed Jul 17 09:35:49 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The Dog-day Cicadas are calling. Each one starts slow and
works up to a loud rattle before petering back off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Jul 14 11:44:54 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A slow drip when I went to bed turned into pounding rain
amounting to nearly three inches! The roof of the trailer still leaks,
but at least the ground is no longer dry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Jun 24 12:57:51 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A low-flying grackle startled the mass of young water
striders so that they agitated the water, turning it white.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Jun 23 14:18:21 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Just above my head, a Scarlet Tanager plucked an unripe
serviceberry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Jun 16 15:12:26 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A rattlesnake was curled up on a bare ledge of rock,
waiting for the sun to come out and warm it up.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Jun 16 15:12:11 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: After several days of rain, the ground is soggy in the
yard. But in the woods the low layer of leaf litter is still dry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Jun 15 17:53:43 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: After several days of rain, the ground is soggy in the
yard. But in the woods the low layer of leaf litter is still dry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue Jun 11 09:29:03 EDT 2002; Marsh near Washington, DC
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Ki, ki, kur called a Black Rail from deep in the marsh.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Back to Rolling Ridge.
Tue Jun 4 11:41:25 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Little mussels in seasonally wet mud puddles. How did
they arrive and what do they do in the dry?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri May 24 19:54:58 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Tiny anurans by the pond turned out to be Spring Peepers,
bearing their crosses on their backs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thu May 23 19:59:22 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Past the peak of migration, there are still several
warblers around to keep me on my toes. The Louisiana Waterthrush young
have already fledged!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun May 19 11:57:32 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Some toad tadpoles are already fully legged, a few nearly
tailless. Tinier than my smallest fingernail, they are still black,
though now with little white spots. Soon they may venture out of the
pond.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri May 10 15:42:36 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A misty day yesterday with scattered thunderstorms
reminded me of the rainy season in the tropics.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue May 7 17:15:02 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: So many birds that I can hardly walk across the yard
without seeing a warbler. Then, at night, the Whip-poor-wills come to
call by my trailer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Apr 26 14:27:37 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Duskywings of all sizes today!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Apr 22 10:50:04 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: In the damp woods, a patch of Wood Anemones were losing
white petals with every drip.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Apr 15 18:10:03 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A pair of Louisiana Waterthrushes were poking about under
overhangs on a steep creek bank, perhaps looking for nest sites. Later,
one sang as he did his tail-bobbing dance along a half-submerged log.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Apr 15 17:56:26 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A pair of Louisiana Waterthruses were poking about under
overhangs on a steep creek bank, perhaps looking for nest sites. Later,
one sang as he did his tail-bobbing dance along a half-submerged log.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue Apr 9 15:20:44 EDT 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I have discovered the great worth of butterfly watching -
they often lead one to flowers. And scats.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Oct 27 20:01:55 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The days have suddenly turned cold and cloudy - no more 80
degree afternoons.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thu Nov 1 14:27:55 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The leaves are nearly all gone, making it the perfect time
of year to look for conifers, or for those late-leaf-losing trees like
Black Cherry. Not the right time of year to creep up on anything though.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wed Nov 7 13:01:29 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The inhabitants of the woods liked my jack-o-lantern. The
first night something dragged off the cap, the next night a big bite was
taken out of its head, and the next night it had completely disappeared.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Nov 9 12:53:17 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The river looked very broad and flat, and I couldn't
figure out why it seemed so different until it suddenly dawned on me - it
was bare of leaves! Nearly all of the trees on the banks are leafless,
and that means no leaves floating down the river.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Nov 18 05:47:23 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The meteors flew hard and fast, some with long,
astonishingly bright tails and others with just the tiniest smidgeon of a
tail. Sometimes, four or five meteors would fall at once in different
parts of the sky, and as I lay on my back looking straight up, it looked
like fireworks.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wed Nov 28 13:37:21 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The rain came at last, too late to reverse the autumn
browning, but in time to fill up the ponds and creeks.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Dec 2 13:35:09 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A rustle in the leaves beside me and I turned just in time
to see a salamander with a large spider in its mouth. I picked the
salamander up to identify it, and it ignored me for a minute while it
struggled to swallow the spider, then it jumped out of my hands, burrowed
beneath my fluorescent orange "don't shoot me" vest, and disappeared into
the leaves.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Dec 8 15:52:53 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A hollow space under an upturned rootmass smelled strongly
of skunk, but had no current residents.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Dec 9 08:34:59 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A Sulphur had fallen into the rain gauge, and when I
pulled it out and put it under the overhang of a rock, it stayed there out
of the rain.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wed Dec 12 09:08:55 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: At 8:25am the sun came over the ridge, melting the frost
into drops which dripped from the branches.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Dec 17 07:44:47 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A Bald Eagle at the river, a Pine Siskin at the feeder,
and a Cranefly Orchid in between!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Dec 29 12:04:44 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I came back from a week in Bristol to find that winter had
arrived! The ponds were frozen and made the odd "zow" noise when I tossed
on a branch bit but didn't crack.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Dec 30 08:51:06 EST 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Out looking at birds this morning, I spotted a dark,
turtle-like shape near the edge of the pond. I inched out on the ice
until at last I could see that it was a Snapping Turtle...and then the ice
cracked and I fell in.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Jan 4 20:40:28 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The ridge was windy and very cold, but I'm still wishing
for snow!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Jan 6 17:00:36 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Tiny ice balls, then rain, then snow, then rain, then
snow, all in the space of a few hours, all at 34 degrees. The intervening
rain episodes left iciclings hanging from all the branches, but now the
ground is white. There'll be good tracking tomorrow! My bare footprints
to and from the trailer are very prominant, though filling in fast.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thu Jan 10 18:15:36 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: It got up to 61 degrees, and the snow nearly all melted
away leaving muddy ground.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Jan 14 18:54:57 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Water or sap dripped slowly down the bark of a Black
Walnut, and several little birds flew in for a drink. Tufted Titmice,
Carolina Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers all
took turns sipping from the tiny water fountain. Much safer than risking
the edge of the nearby river.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Jan 19 19:53:32 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Animal tracks tell me the most amazing things. Squirrels
can leap over 3 feet at every bound. Deer show different track patterns
when they walk and trot and leap. Leaping, _they_ can travel over 10
feet!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Jan 21 18:08:47 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A day (night?) in the life of a opossum - lots of waddling
around, making strange veers off to the side, and a visit to a deer
carcass.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue Jan 22 08:16:32 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I sat down to supper at 5:30, and realized that it was not
yet dark - the days are getting longer!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Jan 25 15:12:08 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A titmouse and a nuthatch drank out of a hollow high in a
tree.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Jan 28 13:03:37 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A salamander crawled through masses of leaves in a creek
pool. Sluggish because of the cold water, it still managed to catch
insects to eat.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue Feb 5 16:38:11 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I awoke to find a Red-shouldered Hawk outside my window.
I startled it by opening the trailer door and it flew away, though not
far. Later, when I braved the 18 degree morning to go across to the
house, I startled it again and it flew off, screaming repeatedly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Feb 10 16:19:10 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A Pickerel Frog was hiding in a boxed in spring, awake but
sluggish in the cool water.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Feb 11 14:36:05 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A ravine-like cove ran from east to west. On the hot,
dry, south-facing side grew a Table Mountain Pine, while on the shaded
north-facing side was a stand of White Pine.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue Feb 19 16:18:29 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The insects think it's spring - while watching a Mourning
Cloak butterfly, I was enveloped in a haze of gnats!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Mar 1 12:32:48 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I found frog eggs under the ice in a mud puddle.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Mar 2 16:34:46 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Dripping rain slid off a thrush's back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Mar 8 08:42:03 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: "Fee-burr!" I dropped by book and ran to the door
("Fee-burr!") and there on a limb sat a Phoebe, its tail dipping as it
sang its name. The first of the year!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Mar 17 21:43:38 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Normally dry hillsides were shedding rivulets. A creek gushed out
of a hole in the ground in the middle of a trail, drowning black and yellow
millipedes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Mar 31 15:02:37 EST 2002
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A tiny Dusky Salamander sat atop a creekside rock in the
dripping rain. It leapt with surprising grace and speed when I tried to
catch it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sun Oct 21 16:58:42 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A patch of rocky ground, more of a seep than a spring,
housed six salamanders - three Four-toed, a Red-backed, a Northern Red,
and one salamander too tiny to identify.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Oct 20 19:23:15 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The field is brown and dry, all of the flowers of a few
weeks ago gone except for a lone yellow Sourgrass bloom.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wed Oct 17 16:11:29 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The early fallen leaves have lost their color and turned a
crunchy brown.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tue Oct 9 19:49:11 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: After the frost, the Persimmons have begun to wrinkle and
lose their bitterness. I found one Pawpaw on the ground, but something
had beaten me to it and it was halfeaten.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thu Oct 4 14:29:19 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: The juncos have arrived!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wed Sep 26 18:31:57 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I'm not sure if it's actually a mast year, but most of the
oaks in the red oak group are dropping at least some nuts - Red Oak, Black
Oak, Pin Oak, and Blackjack Oak.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Sep 22 22:30:39 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I found the first persimmon of the year on the ground.
Despite the lack of frost, it was ripe and sweet!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Sep 21 11:06:05 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Yesterday I went out in the field despite the threat of
rain. The birds were smarter than I was - they stayed undercover.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fri Sep 21 11:04:42 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A Common Wood-nymph with tattered wings landed in front
of me in a sunny spot in the woods. (I love butterfly names!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mon Sep 10 14:14:24 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: Small Coralroot pushed its leafless flower stalks up
through the pine needles. Meanwhile above, a chickadee and titmouse flock
was full of residents - two courting (?) Downy Woodpeckers and
White-breasted Nuthatches - and migrants - Black-and-white Warblers, Brown
Creepers, and I even thought I heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sat Sep 1 10:05:36 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: I was caught in the midst of a flock of grackles. About
four hundred birds were spread out across a small patch of forest, perched
in trees, bathing in the creek, or picking through the leaves on the
forest floor. Later they flew past me in waves, the roar of hundreds of
wingbeats and chorus of "grack"s was overwhelming.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thu Aug 30 08:26:45 EDT 2001
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NATURE FEATURE: A squirrel held two hickory nuts, one jutting out of each
side of it's jaw.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *