The Stroud Preserve, 23 April 2013

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​Large field mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium velutium var. velutinum Raf. 23 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

With all the reports of various and sundry spring migrants from our area from the PABirds listserver, I headed out today with high hopes of seeing some newly arrived spring warblers. Instead, all the highlights of the day seem to be birds of a more wintery nature.

The biggest surprise of the day was a single flyover Red Crossbill! A few days ago I was thinking about making a post to this blog about my disappointment in not seeing any of the good winter finches that had invaded the Delaware Valley. Crossbills, Redpolls, and Grosbeaks seemed to be everywhere, except the Stroud Preserve. At about noon today, as I had my nose pointed up searching for movement I in the trees that could turn in to a bright spring warbler, I heard a familiar “kip-kip-kip-kip!” In my experience whenever I hear their call in flight, I only actually see the bird in flight one out of ten times. So, I frantically searched the skies overhead and saw the bird flying due east. It didn’t land of course and kept on going until it was well out of sight.

Earlier In the day I had an absolutely awesome look at a Merlin perched in the big sycamore tree in front of the old barn. Most of the Merlins that I see are flyovers. This one let me walk directly under it and check it out from all angles. The other winter surprise was a Winter Wren. I thought these were all gone as the last one that I saw was way back on March 21st.

Otherwise, there were no new spring migrants. All in all, it was a pretty slow day for mid April. It was pretty chilly as well! There were good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers along the Brandywine with a few Palm Warblers mixed in. White-throated Sparrows were still congregated around the serpentine outcrop.

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​Lyre-leaved rockcress Arabis lytata L. 23 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

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Early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis Michx. 23 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

The serpentine outcrop had a few blooming specialties. Lyre-leaved rockcress (Arabis lyrata), large field mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium velutinum var. velutinum),  and early saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis). I have found these three species only on the serpentine outcrop and no where else on the preserve.

Start time: 9:05

End time: 1:25

Temp: 42-52°

Wind: 0-10 from the east

Skies: overcast

Species Total: 53

• Black Vulture – approximately 15
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 20
• Canada Goose – 4
• Wood Duck – 2
• Mallard – 1
• Red-tailed Hawk – 3 adults
• Merlin – 1, FOY, only the second time that I have seen one perched in the preserve, as most are flyovers.
• Mourning Dove – 5
• [Barred Owl – The preserve manager said that he has seen Barred Owl within the last week]
• Chimney Swift – approximately 20
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 10
• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 10
• Northern Flicker – 4
• Pileated Woodpecker – 2, heard only
• Eastern Phoebe – 4
• Blue Jay – approximately 25
• American Crow – approximately 10
• Fish Crow – 2
• Tree Swallow – approximately 150
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 30
• Barn Swallow – approximately 15
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 15
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 4
• Carolina Wren – approximately 10
• House Wren – 2
• Winter Wren – 1, I thought I was done with these little guys!
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 3, heard only
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet – approximately 15
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – approximately 30, these seemed to be calling from every group of trees I encountered today.
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 10
• American Robin – approximately 30
• Northern Mockingbird – 1
• Brown Thrasher – 2
• European Starling – approximately 10
• Yellow Warbler – 3
• Yellow-rumped Warbler – approximately 40, only along the Brandywine.
• Palm Warbler – 5, only along the Brandywine.
• Common Yellowthroat – approximately 10
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 15
• Chipping Sparrow – approximately 10
• Field Sparrow – approximately 25
• Savannah Sparrow – 7
• Song Sparrow – approximately 25
• Swamp Sparrow – 1
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 75, as with my last visit, many were found in the area of the Serpentine outcrop.
• Dark-eyed Junco – 3
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 15
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately
• Eastern Meadowlark – 3, two calling in the area of the Bobolink field. 1 calling near the intersection of Creek and Strasberg Roads. The one along creek road seems to be the only one singing in a sustained way as if defending a territory.
• Common Grackle – 4
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 25
• House Finch – 3
• Red Crossbill – 1, Bird of the Day! A new bird for the preserve list. A complete and total surprise!
• American Goldfinch – approximately 25

The Stroud Preserve, 19 April 2013

​Virginia Bluebell Mertensia virginica (L.) Pers. ex Link, 19 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

About 33% of today’s walk around the preserve was in the rain. Despite the rain, there were many birds, including three first for the year. I was trying to think of what birds should be showing up by now and the first one to come to mind was Common Yellowthroat. About 15 seconds later, I heard one singing. Other arrivals today were Yellow Warbler and White-eyed Vireo.

My most notable observation of the day was an apparent territorial Eastern Meadowlark (see more notes below). I’ll need to devote more time to the area to get a better sense on what they are doing. According to the Pennsylvania breeding bird atlas the first eggs usually appear in mid to late May, so a territorial male now, would be right on time for that to occur.

The photo above is for Betty, who formerly lived near the Stroud Preserve and told me she misses the Virginia bluebells that bloom here in the spring. They are now blooming and are indeed a sight to see. If you come fore a visit, take the “red” trail. You can’t miss them.

Start time: 8:45

End time: 11:30

Temp: 61-70°

Wind: 6-10 mph from the south

Skies: overcast with scattered rain

Species Total: 52

• Double-crested Cormorant – 1
• Black Vulture – 2
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 15
• Canada Goose – approximately 12
• Mallard – 2
• Northern Harrier – 1, female or immature male
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1
• Cooper's Hawk – 2
• Red-tailed Hawk – 2, 1 adult, 1 immature
• Mourning Dove – approximately 10
• Belted Kingfisher – 1
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – 6
• Downy Woodpecker – 2, heard only
• Northern Flicker – approximately 12
• Eastern Phoebe – 3
• White-eyed Vireo – 1, FOY
• Blue Jay – approximately 35, there were many small groups (3-8 individuals), many calling and vocalizing
• American Crow – approximately 5
• Tree Swallow – approximately 200
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 100, great increase in numbers. I usually see these along the Brandywine. Today they were very numerous over the open fields.   
• Barn Swallow – 1
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
• Carolina Wren – 4
• House Wren – 1, heard only
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1, heard only
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet – approximately 15, many singing
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – approximately 25, as many as I have seen at the preserve
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15
• American Robin – approximately 20
• Northern Mockingbird – 1
• Brown Thrasher – 1 heard only
• European Starling – approximately 10
• Yellow Warbler – 1, FOY
• Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1
• Common Yellowthroat – 2, FOY
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 10
• Chipping Sparrow – approximately 10
• Field Sparrow – approximately 30, many singing
• Savannah Sparrow – approximately 15
• Song Sparrow – approximately 30
• Swamp Sparrow – 1
• White-throated Sparrow – at least 150. I encountered a very large flock of in the area of the recently burned serpentine outcrop. Many were feeding high in the flowering maple trees. Many scores were calling and singing at once. There were very few other birds mixed in with this flock. If the old adage “for every one Zonotrichia that you see, there are nine that you missed” is true...then the flock was very big indeed.
• Dark-eyed Junco – 1, heard only
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 20
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
• Eastern Meadowlark – 1, possibly two. An apparent territorial male was singing at the corner of Creek Road and Strasburg Road, a promising sign for breeding. I thought I heard a bird singing in the field on the north side of Strasburg Road, but traffic noise made it difficult for me to be sure.
• Common Grackle – 3
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 10
• House Finch – 2
• American Goldfinch – approximately 15

The Stroud Preserve, 16 April 2013

​Toothwort Cardamine concatenata (Michx.) Sw., 16 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

I am finding that I am covering much less ground in the last couple of visits because I do a lot of standing and listening. The landscape is alive with new sounds. Currently, my favorite sounds are the call of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets. I did manage to see a new-year bird for the preserve, a Hermit Thrush, which I was somewhat expecting. I have still be searching the wetlands pretty hard for Louisiana Waterthrushes, but with no luck.

Another thing that slows me down are plants. Above is a photo of Cardamine concatenata. This plant goes by a number of common names; toothwort, cutleaf toothwort, crow’s toes (I like that one), and pepper root. The name “toothwort,” probably refers to “tooth like structures on the rhizomes.” Since I was able to confidently identify the plant without collecting a sample, I do not know what these “tooth-like structures” look like. “Pepper root” refers to the fact that it root is edible and is somewhat spicy. “Crow’s toes” should be self-explanatory.

This is native and considered common in eastern North American, ranging from southeastern Canada to Florida and Texas. At the Stroud Preserve, I only know if it from one tiny spot on a hillside above the Brandywine where there are only about seven plants visible. It is an early bloomer along with spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica) which vastly outnumbers it. They are about the same size so I could easily be over looking others that may be around.

A close cousin is hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsute). It is not native and is absolutely everywhere. It is most likely the tiny white flowering plant that you see growing between the cracks of the sidewalk as well. I have spent a good amount of time looking for another close cousin, Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) which is supposed to be common and widespread in our area, but I have yet to see it. It might not be blooming yet, but I’ll keep looking!

Start time: 8:50

End time: 11:30

Temp: 51-61°

Wind: 5-8 mph from the south

Skies: high clouds, mostly overcast

Species Total: 50

• Black Vulture – 3
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 15
• Canada Goose – 4
• Wood Duck – 2
• Mallard – 2
• Osprey – 1
• Red-tailed Hawk – 1 adult
• Mourning Dove – 1
• Chimney Swift – approximately 10
• Belted Kingfisher – 2
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 5
• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 5
• Northern Flicker – approximately 8, heard only.
• Eastern Phoebe – 3
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – 4
• Fish Crow – 2
• Tree Swallow – approximately 100
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 10
• Barn Swallow – approximately 20
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 6
• Carolina Wren – 4
• House Wren – 1
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 3
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet – approximately 12
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 7
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15
• Hermit Thrush – 1, FOY
• American Robin – approximately 15
• Northern Mockingbird – 2
• Brown Thrasher – 2
• European Starling – approximately 20
• Yellow-rumped Warbler – approximately 15, only observed along the Brandywine
• Palm Warbler – approximately 25, only observed along the Brandywine
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 10
• Chipping Sparrow – 1
• Field Sparrow – approximately 10, many singing along the field edges
• Savannah Sparrow – approximately 15, many seen along the road west of the bridge
• Song Sparrow – approximately 25
• Swamp Sparrow – approximately 10, near wooded wetlands or along the Brandywine
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 20, many singing in woodland understory
• Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 10
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 15
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 150, a large flock (approximately  100) of mostly females in bed of the old farm pond.
• Common Grackle – 1
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 15
• House Finch – 2
• American Goldfinch – approximately 10

Win Win and Forgotten Philadelphia!

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The Four Humors of Tinicum, 2012, polyptych, oil on wood panels. 60.7X14 cm. 

​If you haven not had the chance to see Forgotten Philadelphia you will have one more opportunity! Just to remind you, it is a show with my painting (above) about the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Philadelphia. 

​This is the third and final stop of this exhibit sponsored by the non-profit literary magazine Philadelphia Stories. The show is from April 15 to May 17 at the Center for Architecture at 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA. 

There will be an opening for the show this coming Friday, April 19. This opening serves as a fund raiser for Philadelphia Stories and has a cover fee of $20 ($25 at the door). Unfortunately, Mary and I will not be able to make it to the opening because of a busy weekend for William's confirmation and Paddy's first communion. If you haven't or can't see the show there is also a wonderful book published with reproductions of all of the artwork and literature. The book in of itself is a nice work of art. 

For friends and family in the San Francisco area you will have an opportunity to see one of my paintings on display (below) in Richmond, CA, at the National Institute for Art and Disabilities (NIAD). It is part of a benefit for the institute called Win Win. Tim Buckwalter, my good friend that I went to undergraduate school with at the Tyler School of Art is the Art Director at the institute and asked if I could donate one of my paintings. I was more than happy to comply! 

Both of these ​organizations do great work in the art community. If you have a chance to support their work please do so! 

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The Four Humors of Sometime Soon, 2013, polyptych, oil on wood panels. 61X15.25 cm. 

The Stroud Preserve, 11 April 2013

DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. 26 March 2012, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

I had not intended visit the preserve today because I had to take my children to the doctor in the morning. However, when I got finished with the kids it was so nice out that I reconsidered. Also, the weather forecast indicated that tomorrow might be the better day for staying at home.

Since I got a late start I didn’t have high expectations for birds. I ended up with 54 species and two new first of the year birds, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and House Wren. It was a good day for raptors (6) and warblers (3) and I observed a Field Sparrow collecting nesting material. In the non-bird category I saw a northern water snake, red fox, and morning cloak (butterfly). All in all, a pretty good day!

Start time: 11:00

End time: 1:15

Temp: 70-73°

Wind: 8 from the east

Skies: high clouds

Species Total: 54

• Black Vulture – 2
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 10
• Canada Goose – 6
• Wood Duck – 2
• Mallard – 1
• Osprey – 1
• Bald Eagle – 1, adult
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1, adult
• Cooper's Hawk – 3, 2 adults, 1 immature. For the second day in a row, I saw an adult and an immature conducting pair bonding behavior.
• Red-tailed Hawk – 3, 2 adults, 1 immature
• American Kestrel – 1 male
• Mourning Dove – 1, heard only
• Chimney Swift – at least 2, heard only
• Belted Kingfisher – 1, heard only
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 10
• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 10
• Hairy Woodpecker – 2
• Northern Flicker – approximately 10
• Eastern Phoebe – 3
• Blue Jay – 6
• American Crow – approximately 10
• Fish Crow – 2
• Tree Swallow – approximately 75
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 20
• Barn Swallow – approximately 10
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 15
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 25
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
• Carolina Wren – 3
• House Wren – 2, FOY
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – approximately 8
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet – approximately 10
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 1, FOY
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 20
• American Robin – approximately 20
• Northern Mockingbird – 2
• Brown Thrasher – 2
• European Starling – 5
• Yellow-rumped Warbler – 2
• Pine Warbler – 3
• Palm Warbler – approximately 10
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 8, heard only
• Chipping Sparrow – 2
• Field Sparrow – approximately 10
• Savannah Sparrow – 11
• Song Sparrow – approximately 40
• Swamp Sparrow – 6
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 15
• Dark-eyed Junco – 1
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 12
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 30
• Common Grackle – 1
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 10
• American Goldfinch – 4

The Stroud Preserve, 10 April 2013

​TROUT LILY Erythronium americanum Ker Gawl. 25 March 2012. Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

I got a later start than usual as the battery in my car was dead. “No problem” I thought as I have a bike. I pulled my commuter bike down off the rack to find that the tire was flat. I thought for a moment and decided it was easier to fix my flat tire that jump start the car, which I did.

The reward for my late start was a mink! Not a mink coat, but a living breathing mink. I had a great view from about of it from the bridge over the creek. It was about 20 feet away walking along the bank of the Brandywine completely unconcerned with my presence. At one point, it came to a large rock. On the other side of the rock was a Swamp Sparrow. I was certain I was going to get to witness the hunting skills of a large weasel first hand. The mink stood on its hind legs and peered over the rock then jumped up on top. The mink looked down at the sparrow and the sparrow looked up at the mink. Then the sparrow went back to foraging and the mink walked off as if they had some mutual agreement that today was not the day to mess with each other.

Again to day the species count did not keep pace with the rise in temperature. In fact, bird life seemed much more subdued today. Not much was moving at all. While the birds did not seem to be responding to the warmer temperature, the plants sure were. On Monday very few plants were blooming, especially native species. By today, the forest floor was covered bloodroots, trout-lilies, skunk cabbage, and so on and so forth. I did take the time to identify the frogs that were in a spawning frenzy in most of the shallow water areas. They are not frogs at all, but Woodhouse’s toads.

I did return in the evening with my son so he could see the toads and snapping turtles. While I was there I saw 13 Chimney Swifts for my only new spring arrival for the day. This is about 5 days ahead of their arrival date last year.

Start time: 9:10

End time: 12:00

Temp: 72- 83°!

Wind: 6 from the west

Skies: mostly clear

Species Total: 48

• Black Vulture – approximately 10
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 25
• Canada Goose – approximately 10
• Wood Duck – 2
• Mallard – 2
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1
• Cooper's Hawk – 2, 1 adult and 1 immature, despite one of these birds clearly being an immature, they appeared to be conducting courtship displays and calling to each other.
• Red-tailed Hawk – 3, 2 adults, 1 immature
• American Kestrel – 1, male
• Wilson's Snipe – 1
• Mourning Dove – 1
• Chimney Swift – 13 FOY (at 6:30 PM)
• Belted Kingfisher – 1, heard only
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 10
• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 15
• Hairy Woodpecker – 2
• Northern Flicker – approximately 15, I saw 5 together in large oak tree, calling and chasing each other
• Eastern Phoebe – approximately 8
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – 5
• Fish Crow – 2
• Tree Swallow – approximately 100
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 10
• Barn Swallow – 1
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 4
• Carolina Wren – 4
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 5
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 20
• American Robin – approximately 50
• Northern Mockingbird – 4
• Brown Thrasher – 1, heard only
• European Starling – approximately 50
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 5, heard only
• Chipping Sparrow – approximately 15, perhaps a spring arrival considering the numbers
• Field Sparrow – approximately 10, heard only
• Savannah Sparrow – 3
• Song Sparrow – approximately 30
• Swamp Sparrow – approximately 10
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 30
• Dark-eyed Junco – 2
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 50
• Common Grackle – 2
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 15
• American Goldfinch – 4

The Stroud Preserve, 9 April 2013

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​SPRING BEAUTY Claytonia caroliniana MICHX. 9 April 2013. Stroud Perserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Awesome! Yesterday the starting temperature was over 50° with more 50 species on the day. Today the Starting temperature was over 60° and I ended the day with a grand total of 44 species! Wait a minute. What? Well that blows my theory that as the temperature goes up, so goes the species count. Actually, today I spent a lot of time looking for one species of bird. Louisiana Waterthrush. I also spent a lot of time looking for a plant Cardamine pensylvanica, or Pennsylvania bittercress. Both should be found about this time of year. However, I failed to find either. So it goes sometimes.

I did add a new bird to my list for the preserve. As I was walking around the bed of the old farm pond I heard the distinctive call of a male Ring-necked Pheasant. I also got an email today from a friend who said that his wife had seen a male pheasant on her walk this morning. While it is always exciting to add a new species to your list for whatever you are keeping a list for, the bird of the day was a male Rusty Black Bird in the bed of the old farm pond. The last one I saw was back on 22 March and I just had the felling they were done. This bird still had rusty feathers on its back. I also added a new warbler to the year list as a Yellow-rumped Warbler was mixed in with the Palm Warblers today.

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RAMPS Allium tricoccum Aiton 9 April 2013, Stroud Perserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Besides birds, it was a good day for flowers and cold-blooded animals. I took photos of some of them, which are right and below. My first reptile of the day was a fairly sizable common gartersnake, which was on a hillside in one of the wooded areas. I bent over to take a photo and it immediately showed very strong disapproval for anything of the sort, snapping at me and making a noticeable hiss. When I backed away it turned its head down slope, straitened out its body like an arrow. A couple of pushes of its tail and it shot down the hill moving literally faster than I could run (you will not see a photo of it below). Next, frogs (I’m not exactly sure which species as they were just a little to far out for me to tell for sure, but I’m guessing bull frog) were gathered by the hundreds and were busy making more frogs at the old farm pond. Nearby a very large snapping turtle was hauled out on the vegetation sunning itself. I figured he would probably not pull a stunt like the gartersnake. So I did manage to get a picture of it (see below).  

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​Bull frog egg mass

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​Snaping turtle. carapace approximately 14" wide. 

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RED MAPLE Acer rubrum L. 9 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

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​BOX ELDER Acer negundo L. 4 May 2012, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

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​BLOODROOT Sanguinaria canadensis L. 9 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

As a side note, some might wonder why I’ve been going on so about the changing of the seasons. I lived in Washington State for nearly 20 years. There we have two seasons, wet season and dry season. The wet season last for 12.5 months, and the dry season last for 2.5 months (I double checked my data and those numbers appear to be correct). These seasons are not necessarily defined by temperature. In fact, the last year I was in Washington I wore the same cycling gear in January as I did in August. From January to August, 2011 I wore short pants and shirt on just five days, two of those days were in February! So, bear with me. It might take a while for me to readjust to this concept of the changing of the seasons.

Start time: 8:50

End time: 12:00

Temp: 62-74°!

Wind: 6-16 mph from the west

Skies: high clouds, mostly clear

Species Total: 44

• Black Vulture – approximately 10
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 25
• Canada Goose – approximately 12
• Mallard – 2
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 adult
• Cooper's Hawk – 1 adult
• Red-tailed Hawk – 3 adults
• Ring-necked Pheasant – 1, heard only. FOY and my first for the preserve
• Mourning Dove – 1, where have all the doves gone?
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 8
• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 15
• Northern Flicker – approximately 15, as I noted yesterday, flicker numbers are rising. They are very vocal now
• Eastern Phoebe – approximately 5
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 10
• Fish Crow – 2
• Tree Swallow – approximately 50
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 12
• Barn Swallow – approximately 10
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 4
• Carolina Wren – 6
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 3, heard only
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15
• American Robin – approximately 40
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• European Starling – approximately 75
• Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1 FOY
• Palm Warbler – approximately 12
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 10
• Field Sparrow – 8, heard only
• Savannah Sparrow – 5
• Song Sparrow – approximately 50
• Swamp Sparrow – 9
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 50
• Dark-eyed Junco – 1
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 12
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
• Eastern Meadowlark – 3, heard only.
• Rusty Blackbird – 1 male, Bird of the day!
• Common Grackle – 2
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 20
• American Goldfinch – 5

Bicycle Botany: The Strange Vine

When I first started riding my bike here I quickly learned the best routes for cycling in rural Chester County because 1), there were few cars on the roads and 2), the roads were full of cyclist. ​Easy enough. 

My favorite route, and apparently the favorite route for many Chester County cyclist, includes Brandywine Drive, which along the west branch of the Brandywine Creek. Brandywine Drive dead ends into Telegraph Road. If you take a left on Telegraph Road, it turns into Embreeville Road (also known by a numeric moniker Route 162), which slides past the old Embreeville Mill. As you go along on this stretch of road on your left will be the Cheslan Preserve, part of the Natural Lands Trust. This is same group that manages the Stroud Preserve, which I refer to as "my back yard."

In the winter when no leaves are on the trees one stretch of Brandywine Drive that ​tightly hugs the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek provides a very nice view across a low wooded riparian area. One plant here has always stood out like a giant neon beacon because it is the only broadleaved plant with evergreen leaves. It lies about 100 feet off the side of the road. I can tell that it is some kind of vine and every time that I see it I say to myself "one of these days, I'm going to stop, walk across that flood plain and see what the heck that thing is. 

​Well, Saturday was that day. I finally stopped and fought my way through a large patch of multiflora rose (not an easy thing to do when you are clad in spandex) to get a better look at the mystery plant. I looked and quickly determined I had not an inkling of a clue as to what it was. I broke off a small branch, which included some leaves and a few fruiting bodies and brought it home for closer inspection. 

At home I looked at the fruit. It was divided into four parts which reminded me of another plant. I took me a minute but I finally remembered that the plant that it reminded me of was called winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus​). Now, you may remember a blog post last spring about winged euonymus. It was a plant that I had a great deal of trouble identifying with a traditional identification key. I resorted to typing in the key features of the plant into google and seeing what I came up with. I figured that if I suspect this is a Euonymus my best chance of identifying was with google and not my botanical text. 

​Ergo I entered "Euonymus evergreen vine" into the little box on my computer screen. In 0.19 seconds I had over 70,000 webpages with Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei). There you have it. Mystery solved. I am very grateful that we live in such interesting times. I am especially grateful for the home computer and the internet. It is indeed a good time to be an amateur botanist! 

​I tried to take some photographs of the wintercreeper from that ride, but it was late in the day and the light was bad so they didn't some out that well. To rectify this, I decided to jump in the car and bring William along with me to get a better picture of it, and look for other early spring wildflowers and creepy crawly things. I'm glad we did. We had a great time. See photos of our visit to the Cheslan Preserve here. 

​Ride lots, stop often!

Russell

The Stroud Preserve, 8 April 2013

On warm days I am not alone! Today was the first day that I started with the temperature above 50°, as luck would have it, it was the first day of the year with more than 50 species. I had four first of year birds today, including my first warblers, Pine and Palm. The other two were Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Double-crested Cormorant. I also had a nice assortment of winter birds the most surprising of which was a Red-breasted Nuthatch at a spot that I presume the same individual has occupied all winter. I have not seen one there for the last couple of weeks and had figured it was gone for the season. I searched hard for Eastern Meadowlarks today. I spent a good amount of time scanning the tall grass in the fields below No-Hang-Glider Hill but failed to see any. I finally heard one on my last ditch effort as I was leaving. So, they are still around, or at least one is. The flora is coming along fast and furious. I predict at within a week the landscape will be in full bloom. I look forward to that. Sliver Maple, Red Maple and Box Elders were blooming, which made for a nice study in Acer flowers.

Start time: 8:50

End time: 12:15

Temp: 52-64°

Wind: 6 mph from the west

Skies: high clouds

Species Total: 55

• Double-crested Cormorant – 1, overhead FOY
• Black Vulture – approximately 15
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 20
• Canada Goose – approximately 15
• Wood Duck – 3
• Mallard – 2
• Common Merganser – 1,
• Osprey – 1
• Bald Eagle – 2, immature and adult
• Northern Harrier – 1, male
• Red-tailed Hawk – 4, 3 adults, 1 immature
• American Kestrel – 1, male
• Wilson's Snipe – 1
• Mourning Dove – 2
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 10
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 20
• Hairy Woodpecker – 1, hoping for high nest site fidelity I revisited a nest site from last yean and there it was.
• Northern Flicker – approximately 10, numbers were up today.
• Pileated Woodpecker – 2
• Eastern Phoebe – approximately 10
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 8
• Tree Swallow – approximately 300
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 10
• Barn Swallow – 1, a difficult bird today. Saw it perched on a wire as I was driving off.
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 25
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 20
• Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 5
• Brown Creeper – 1
• Carolina Wren – approximately 10
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet – approximately 10, FOY
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 20
• American Robin – approximately 50
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• Brown Thrasher – 1
• European Starling – approximately 30
• Pine Warbler – 1, singing in a stand of yellow poplars. FOY and only the 2nd observation at the preserve for me.
• Palm Warbler – approximately 20, FOY
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 20, numbers increasing
• Field Sparrow – approximately 20, also increasing
• Fox Sparrow – 1
• Song Sparrow – approximately 75
• Swamp Sparrow – approximately 10, these seemed to have made a small shift in habitat preference. Up till today, I could reliably find them in the wet grassy areas along the main road from the Brandywine to the old farm pond. Today I could find none there, but instead, they were in the wooded wetlands amongst skunk cabbage.
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 100, numbers jumped way up from the last week.
• Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 10
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 20
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
• Eastern Meadowlark – 1, heard only
• Common Grackle – 2
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 25. Here is a note about cowbird numbers as the nesting season progresses. In Washington State I would regularly count dozens of cowbirds on one of my study sites. Then I decided to capture and color-band them. What I found was that I recounted the same 2 or 3 males and 4 or 5 females over and over. I estimated that fewer than a dozen females were responsible for parasitizing the scores of nest that I found that contained cowbird eggs.
• House Finch – approximately 5, heard only
• American Goldfinch – approximately 5, heard only

The Stroud Preserve, 5 April 2013

A starting temperature above 40°! Plus the low wind made for a very pleasant day outdoors. Like yesterday, the bird species composition has not changed very much. However, the number of individual birds in the winter visitor category continues to drop. Woodpecker contact drumming seems to be the dominant bird sound in the wooded areas. Red-bellied and Downy are the most active. Hairy Woodpecker has been notably absent. They should be around as I know that at least two pairs nested in the preserve last breeding season. I am excited about the presence of the Pileated Woodpeckers. That is still the most uncommon woodpecker in the preserve. I would be surprised if they nested here as most of the woodlands are pretty fragmented. But, birds are much better at habitat assessment than I am so we will see.

Start time: 8:45

End time: 11:35

Temp: 41-51°

Wind: 0-8 from the north

Skies: mostly clear

Species Total:

• Great Blue Heron – 1
• Black Vulture – approximately 15
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 30
• Canada Goose – approximately 12
• Bald Eagle – 2 adults
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 3 adults
• Red-tailed Hawk – 5, 1 immature, 4 adults
• American Kestrel – 1 female
• Killdeer – 1
• Mourning Dove – 2
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 10
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 15
• Northern Flicker – 2
• Pileated Woodpecker – 2
• Eastern Phoebe – approximately 10
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – 5
• Tree Swallow – approximately 300
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – 5
• Barn Swallow – 1
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 15
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
• Carolina Wren – approximately 10
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 10
• American Robin – approximately 50
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• European Starling – approximately 50
• Eastern Towhee – approximately 10, heard only
• Field Sparrow – approximately 15, many singing
• Savannah Sparrow – 1 heard only
• Fox Sparrow – 1
• Song Sparrow – approximately 75
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 25
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 15
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
• Common Grackle – approximately 12
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 20
• House Finch – 2
• American Goldfinch – 4

The Stroud Preserve, 4 April 2013

Today I had the same temperature range as I did yesterday. Yesterday I froze. Today, without the wind, it was wonderful to be outside! Despite the nice weather not much changed from yesterday in terms of birdlife. The only new bird that I recorded was a Brown Thrasher. I didn’t get a chance to see it but I heard it clearly from a distance. I did see at least two Fish Crows, which I missed yesterday. I am still seeing and hearing them in and around downtown West Chester. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was present on the same branch that I observed one about a month ago. All in all a nice day for a walk. Unfortunately, I had to cut my walk a little shorter today due to a doctor’s appointment.

Start time: 9:00

End time: 11:00

Temp: 32-40

Wind: 6 mph from the north-northwest down to zero by the time I left.

Skies: mostly clear

Species Total: 41

• Great Blue Heron – 1
• Black Vulture – approximately 15
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 30
• Canada Goose – approximately 15
• Mallard – 2
• Cooper's Hawk – 1 adult
• Red-tailed Hawk – 6, 1 immature, 5 adults
• Mourning Dove – 1
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – 4
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
• Downy Woodpecker – 3
• Northern Flicker – 1
• Pileated Woodpecker – heard only
• Eastern Phoebe – 6
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – 8
• Fish Crow – 2
• Tree Swallow – approximately 300
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – 5
• Barn Swallow – 1
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
• Carolina Wren – 5
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 10
• American Robin – approximately 40
• Northern Mockingbird – 4
• Brown Thrasher – 1 FOY, heard only
• European Starling – approximately 20
• Eastern Towhee – 2 heard only
• Field Sparrow – 4 heard only
• Song Sparrow – approximately 50
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 10
• Dark-eyed Junco – 1
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 30
• Eastern Meadowlark – 4, in the tall grass in the fields below No-Hang-Glider Hill. Probably more present, but were difficult to see.
• Common Grackle – 2
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 20
• House Finch – 2
• American Goldfinch – 3

The Stroud Preserve, 3 April 2013

​WHERE GEESE ONCE ROAMED! 

After a week away for a faux spring break in the mountains of North Carolina (the Smokey Mountains had a fresh six inches of snow when we arrived) I had high hopes that we would be blessed with some days that were squarely in the spring column. However, this was not to be. I resumed my Stroud Preserve walks on a cold and windy day that was more like mid January!

GLORY-OF-THE-SNOW (Chionodoxa luciliae Boiss.), 3 April 2013, Stroud Preserve, Chester County, Pennsylvannia.

Nonetheless, there were a few new arrivals for birds, Barn Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow and Osprey. Looking back at last year’s records, the bird life is roughly the same, however, the plant life was much different. The place was alive with wildflowers this time last year. Tout-lily, Virginia blue-bell, and bloodroot were all in full bloom this time last year. They are just starting to push their way through the soil now. The vast majority of the flowering plants that are blooming now are all introduced aliens. Flowering and setting seed early is not a bad strategy for success if you want to get a leg up on the competition.

One new foreign stray that I found today was from Turkey of all places. Chionodoxa luciliae, commonly called glory-of-the-snow. Sine the wind was almost up to 20 mph today, I’m calling it glory-of-the-wind!

Start time: 8:50

End time: 11:00

Temp: 32-40

Wind: 6-17 mph from the west

Skies: clear

Species Total: 41

• Black Vulture – approximately 15
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 20
• Canada Goose –7, all of the winter flocks are now gone. The ones that are around now seemed to be paired with a mate.
• Mallard – 2
• Osprey – 1 FOY, high overhead
• Bald Eagle – 1 adult
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 adult
• Red-tailed Hawk –5, 1 immature, 4 adults
• American Kestrel – 2 a male and female
• Mourning Dove – 2
• Belted Kingfisher – 1
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – heard only
• Downy Woodpecker – 1
• Northern Flicker – 2
• Eastern Phoebe – 5
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 10
• Tree Swallow – approximately 100
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – 2 FOY
• Barn Swallow – 1 FOY
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 2
• Carolina Wren – heard only
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 10
• American Robin – approximately 50
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• European Starling – approximately 25
• Eastern Towhee – 3
• Field Sparrow – 4
• Song Sparrow – approximately 25
• Swamp Sparrow – 1
• White-throated Sparrow – 4
• Dark-eyed Junco – 3
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 12
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 30
• Eastern Meadowlark – 8
• Common Grackle – 4
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 15
• House Finch – 2
• American Goldfinch – 3

Grapevine Birds, Spring 2013

Here is the (tiny) list of birds observed at Fisher Branch (unless otherwise noted). It is pretty minimal but it will give you a fair ideal of what was around. Fisher Branch is where Grandma and Grandpa live. It is a shoot off of Grapevine, which is a suburb of Center, which is on the out skirts of Petersburg, which is just down the road from Mars Hill, which is about 30 miles north of Asheville, North Carolina. In other words, it is out in the middle of no where. 

 

Please take note that the photo above is of a goat, not a bird. There seemed to be more goats on this visit than birds. Check out last year's bird list from the same time period to see the difference a year can make.

1. Common Loon  – 2 flying over Grapvine on 29 March heading somewhat north.
2. Black Vulture – Many seen along the way but none seen in the area of the Rogers house.
3. Turkey Vulture - Many
4. Osprey – 1 over Wilson Branch
5. Sharp-shinned Hawk  - 1 on 3/30
6. Cooper's Hawk – 1 on 4/1
7. Red-tailed Hawk – Many
8. American Kestrel – A few
9. Peregrine Falcon – 1 just south of VA/MD state line on 3/28
10. American Woodcock – 1 just before dawn along the PA Turnpike. My first in over 20 years!
11. Wild Turkey – Several
12. Ruffed Grouse – Many drumming around
13. Rock Dove – Many
14. Mourning Dove – Many
15. Belted Kingfisher – a few
16. Red-bellied Woodpecker – a few
17. Downy Woodpecker – a few
18. Hairy Woodpecker – 1 on 4/1
19. Northern Flicker – several
20. Pileated Woodpecker – Many! By far the most common woodpecker!
21. Eastern Phoebe – Many
22. Blue Jay – Many
23. American Crow – Many
24. Tree Swallow – 2 on 4/1
25. Northern Rough-winged Swallow – 1 on 4/1
26. Barn Swallow – 2 on 4/1
27. Carolina Chickadee – Many
28. Tufted Titmouse – Many
29. White-breasted Nuthatch – 1
30. Carolina Wren – many
31. Winter Wren – 2, a fairly uncommon bird for the area despite the fact that they nest at some of the higher elevations (Mount Mitchel and Roan Mountain)
32. Eastern Bluebird – a few, not as many as around West Chester.
33. Hermit Thrush – 2, feeding on the front lawn of some neighbors yard with robins.
34. American Robin – Many
35. Northern Mockingbird – Many
36. European Starling – Many
37. Eastern Towhee – Many
38. Chipping Sparrow – a few
39. Field Sparrow – several, singing
40. Song Sparrow – Many
41. Swamp Sparrow – 1
42. White-throated Sparrow – a few
43. Northern Cardinal – Many
44. Red-winged Blackbird – Many
45. Common Grackle – Many
46. Brown-headed Cowbird – Many
47. House Finch – Many

Spring time on Fisher Branch

Actually, the title is a misnomer as spring was pretty much MIA on our trip to visit Grandpa Gene and Grandma Linda this past weekend. We drove down on Thursday in hopes that a 580 mile drive in a southerly direction would hold some warmer weather than we have been having here in West Chester. However, the day before we left the mountains got 5 or 6 inches of fresh snow! ​Fortunately, a quick look at the weather forecast showed that things should turn around fairly quick, and it did. A little. By Friday most of the snow was melted, and we had a mix of cool rainy and luke warm sunshine through Monday.  

The tardy nature of Spring 2013 is not just a figment of my imagination. Last year we came down for a visit at the same time last year. Spring seemed a good two weeks ahead of this year. Check out the photos from last year here. ​

Whatever the weather, or whether spring is early or late, it is always good to get together with your family. We even got to see Aunt Teri for a day. Grandma and Grandpa are doing good and Lilly and Max still bark at everything. One thing that is a little different on the ole farm is that Circe and Aster have become escape artist and seem to find their way to the blueberry patch every morning. ​

​Check out photos from our trip here. 

​Russell, Mary, Emily, William, and Paddy. 

The Stroud Preserve, 27 March 2013

Today was a continuation of the slow slide from winter to spring. The fields of the preserve are just starting to show a greenish tint to them and more birds seem to be singing. There were still small patches of snow left over from Monday when we had about three inches or so. I certainly home those few clumps were the last grip that winter holds for now. The wind was a factor, again, being quite strong at times, which makes it difficult to hear some of the higher pitched calls and chip of some species. 

One of the bigger changes that I noted to day was the lack of Canada Geese. I saw only 7! Today was the first time since the fall that I had less than 100 geese at the preserve. Another oddity was that I saw more Fish Crows than American Crows. That is the first time that has happened.  Another birder reported to me that they had observed a Northern Rough-winged Swallow along the Brandywine yesterday. I had high hopes that I would see one today. I checked all the Tree Swallows pretty thoroughly and came up empty. Looking at last years field notes the only species that was present then that is not present now are Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Brown Thrashers. The plant life was certainly much further along last year at this time. Bloodroot, in particular, was already in full bloom. Again, I think I'm going to have to have a little take with a certain groundhog about our regional weather trends! 

Start time: 8:50

End time: 11:00

Temp: 37-45°

Wind: 8-21mph from the NNW

Skies: mostly clear

Species Total: 44

• Great Blue Heron – 1
• Black Vulture – 3
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 15
• Canada Goose – 7
• Mallard – 2
• Bald Eagle – 1
• Red-tailed Hawk – 3
• Wilson's Snipe – 2
• Mourning Dove – 3
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – 5
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
• Downy Woodpecker – 4
• Hairy Woodpecker – 1
• Northern Flicker – 2
• Pileated Woodpecker – 2
• Eastern Phoebe – 2
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 10
• Fish Crow – approximately 25
• Tree Swallow – approximately 150
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – 4
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 1, hear only
• Carolina Wren – 5
• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15
• American Robin – approximately 125
• Northern Mockingbird – 2
• European Starling – approximately 20
• Eastern Towhee – 3
• Field Sparrow – approximately 12, many singing
• Savannah Sparrow – 1
• Fox Sparrow – 1
• Song Sparrow – approximately 25
• Swamp Sparrow – 1
• White-throated Sparrow – 5
• Dark-eyed Junco – 8
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 30
• Eastern Meadowlark – 1
• Common Grackle – 1
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 15
• House Finch – 2
• American Goldfinch – 3

Bicycle Botany: Skunk Cabbage

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​Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Salisb. ex Nutt). 13 March 2013. Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania

At long last, I took a ride on my bike that wasn't on my stationary bike in my basement. The last time that I did an out doors bike ride was sometime in November! Prior to that the longest break in bike riding was in 2007 when I dislocated my shoulder and broke my collar bone. Even then it was only for a bout 4 weeks. 

Excuses aside, it was great to get out for a 21 mile ride. As I rode my bike along Creek Road I saw one of my favorite sights of spring: skunk cabbage! Both the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast have skunk cabbage, albeit different species. The one that we have here in the northeast is Symplocarpus foetidus and the one in the northwest is Lysichiton americanus. While they both are in the same family (Araceae) and are commonly called skunk cabbage they are actually quite different. 

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Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Salisb. ex Nutt). 20 March 2013. Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

The reasons that I first ​became interested in skunk cabbage is that they employ a different strategy for pollination than most plants, and their name should give you some clue as to what strategy that might be. Their odor actually doesn't smell like a skunk. What it smells like is rotting meat and rotting meat will attract a whole bunch of insects, such as flies and beetles specifically, staphylinid (rove) beetles. Back in Washington when I would take a closer look at the flowers I would sometimes find 15 or 20 little black beetles on a single flower. Having come to the flower in the hopes of finding a meal of rotting meat, they find none and then move on to the next scent of rotting meat taking pollen with them. 

While pollination by carrion eating beetles is pretty cool, that is not the coolest thing I like about skunk cabbage. Actually the coolest thing about skunk cabbage is not cool at all. ​Skunk cabbage grows in northernly climates. Which, if you think about it, poses a problem if you are a large flowering plant that blooms very early in the spring and in wet marshy areas. The reason this would be a problem is that the surfaces of these wet marshy areas are often frozen solid in early March. The easiest way to deal with ice is to melt it, and this is exactly what the plant does. 

Skunk cabbage is one of the few plants that can produce their own heat, known as thermogenesis. And they don't just produce a little heat to melt the frozen ground, in fact, they can produce heat at temperatures that is 59-95° higher than the air temperature! ​Their ability to produce heat to melt icy habitats might be a lucky side product of the real reason they produce heat. 

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Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Salisb. ex Nutt). 26 March 2012. Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. This photo shows many plants which are only about 25% of their final growth. They can be up to two feet tall. 

Most plants that are thermogenic also depend on carrion loving insects for pollination. Most of these plants live in the tropics, where no icy habitats occur. The reasons why these plants produce heat is not clearly understood. It may be a way for the plant to produce additional vapors that enhance dispersal of the compounds that attract insects to them. This got me to thinking that if the plants are producing heat, they must also be producing infrared light. If so, they could also attract insects that see in the infrared spectrum. I don't know how if carrion eating insects see infrared, but I do know that insects that are hematophags (blood suckers) like mosquitos and bedbugs, can see the infrared heat of their victims.

As a side note, another interesting group of insects that can see infrared are the metalic wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae). These beetles see infrared for a different reason. They see the infrared heat produced by forest fires because they lay their eggs on charred wood. 

Regardless of the evolutionary pressures that caused these plants to start producing their own heat, ​they are pretty cool plants in my book. If you are on your bike this time of year, they are well worth the time to stop and take a break to check them out. Click on any of the photos above for a better view. 

​Ride lots, and stop often!

Russell

The Stroud Preserve, 22 March 2013

When I get up in the morning around 5:40, I check my weather app on my iPhone to see what the day has in store for me. By the time I make breakfast for the family, see the children off to school and arrive at the Stroud Preserve at around 8:45, whatever little icon and temperature range was displayed earlier will have surely changed, and usually for the worse.

Let’s take to day for example. At 5:40 I got a sun icon with a temperature range of 28 to 47°.  Awesome! By the time I got to the Stroud Preserve at 8:50, the icon had turned to snow flakes and any hope of reaching 47° was nothing but a distant dream. Well, what can you do? I tell you one thing I’m going to do, if I ever met Punxsutawney Phil in a dark alley, I’m going to open up a can of woop ass on that hairy little rodent for saying we were going to have an early spring. That’s what I’m going to do.

That said, it actually wasn’t a bad day bird-wise. I tallied the highest species count of the year so far without seeing anything unusual. The meadowlarks and snipe of the day before were nowhere to be found. I saw a single Rusty Blackbird flying over an open field on the south side of the preserve. It briefly landed in a tree at the edge of woodlands and quickly moved on. There was a large flock of sparrows on the west side of the preserve, which probably totaled over 300 individuals by my best guess. They were madly foraging in, on, under and around a big thicket of multi-flora rose. The other highlight was a total of 4 Killdeer.

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​Common chickweed (Stellaria media (L.) Vill.), 22 March 2013. The Stroud Preserve, Chester County, PA, 

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​Field speedwell (Veronica media L.) 5 March 2013. The Stroud Preserve, Chester County PA. 

For the weed enthusiast out there I found a few others to add to the early bloomers list (I actually found these blooming back on March 5th but I’m just now getting around to posting the photos). They are field speedwell (Veronica agrestis) and common chickweed (Stellaria media). If anyone disagrees with identification of these plants please don’t hesitate to let me know (click on the photo for a better look). I’m not nearly as certain about my botanical identifications as I am with my ornithological identifications. I used the keys in Plants of Pennsylvania (Rhoads and Block 2007) to identify these. I am most uncertain about the Veronica. It shouldn’t be blooming until April. But I went through the keys several times with it and still came up with this one.

Start time: 8:50

End time: 12:40

Temp: 30-34°

Wind: 7-17 mph from the west

Skies: mostly cloudy light snow flurries, occasional sun breaks

Species Total: 46

• Great Blue Heron – 2
• Black Vulture – approximately 10
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 25
• Canada Goose – approximately 150
• Mallard – 9
• Common Merganser – 2
• Bald Eagle – 1 immature
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 adult
• Red-tailed Hawk – 6, 4 adults, two immature
• American Kestrel – 1 male
• Killdeer – 4, still an uncommon bird at the preserve!
• Mourning Dove – 2
• Belted Kingfisher – 1
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – 5
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
• Downy Woodpecker – 2
• Hairy Woodpecker – 1
• Northern Flicker – 1
• Eastern Phoebe – 1
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 30
• Fish Crow – 3
• Tree Swallow – 7
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 4
• Carolina Wren – approximately 5, heard only
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 20
• American Robin – approximately 150
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• European Starling – approximately 75
• Eastern Towhee – 4
• Field Sparrow – 7
• Savannah Sparrow – 1
• Fox Sparrow – 3
• Song Sparrow – approximately 100
• Swamp Sparrow – 1
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 250
• Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 25
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 15
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
• Rusty Blackbird – 1
• Common Grackle – 1
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 15
• House Finch – 1
• American Goldfinch – 3

The Stroud Preserve, 21 March 2013

I started the day off with snow flurries and a light dusting of snow on the ground! The wind was much more reasonable today, however, it was still cold if you were standing in it. When I could find a spot that was out of the wind it was quite nice. As with yesterday, I did spend a fair amount of time looking for plants. I did notice that bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) pushing up through the ground.

Bird life was almost a carbon copy of the previous few days. The standouts were 15 Eastern Meadowlarks and 2 Rusty Blackbirds. The meadowlarks were in the same location as previous days, in the big open field below "No Hang Glider" Hill. They were in the mowed grass making them easy to count. The Rusty Blackbirds, a male and a female, were near the old farm pond area and they didn't provide a very good look.

The snipe were in the wet depression below “No Hang Glider” Hill. This might be a reliable location for people to find snipe prior to flushing them. I found these three by scanning the grass for dark spots. A spotting scope would provide some outstanding looks at these secretive birds. "No Hang Glider" Hill is directly across the road from the parking lot along Creek Road. I call No Hang Glider Hill because of the sign at the bottom that states just that. 

Start time: 9:00

End time: 11:45

Temp: 32-34°

Wind: 8-10 mph from the north

Skies: snow flurries to start becoming partly cloudy

Species Total: 42

• Black Vulture – approximately 5
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 20
• Canada Goose – approximately 200
• Mallard – 2
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1, adult
• Red-tailed Hawk – 6, 5 adults, 1 immature (5 were visible at one time)
• American Kestrel – 1 female
• Wilson's Snipe – 3 (another birder reported 6 from the same location)
• Mourning Dove – 2
• Belted Kingfisher – 1
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – 4
• Downy Woodpecker – 2
• Northern Flicker – 1
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 20
• Fish Crow – 2
• Tree Swallow – approximately 15
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
• Carolina Wren – approximately 10
• Winter Wren – 1
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15
• American Robin – approximately 200
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• European Starling – approximately 200
• Eastern Towhee – 1
• Field Sparrow – 3
• Savannah Sparrow – 1
• Fox Sparrow – 2
• Song Sparrow – approximately 75
• Swamp Sparrow – 2
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 20
• Dark-eyed Junco – 3
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
• Eastern Meadowlark – 15
• Rusty Blackbird – 2
• Common Grackle – 3
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 10
• House Finch – 2
• American Goldfinch – 1, heard only

The Stroud Preserve, 20 March 2013

Not a bad day for the first day of spring. It would have been perfect if the wind did not howl at times. The best observation of the day was approximately 2500 Snow Geese flying north over the preserve. The flew over in long lines for the first 10 minutes or so after I arrived. 

I searched the field for Eastern Meadowlarks again and only came up with 4, but I did hear one calling which was a first. I also flushed two Wilson Snipe and a Rusty Blackbird. The photo above is prime Rusty Blackbird habitat. Most observations that I have made of them this spring have been along the Brandywine.

​Pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria​) 13 March 2013, The Stroud Preserve, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

I did spend a fair amount of time looking for flowering plants in some of the wooded areas (partly to get out of the wind!). One of the common weeds that is now blooming is and hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta). It is an introduced plant which is native to Europe. We have a native one called Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica). It is very similar and might be blooming now. I have never seen the native one on the preserve and still haven’t. Otherwise, the ground is exploding with Pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria) and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).

Start time: 9:00

End time: 11:45

Temp: 34-40

Wind: 8-20 mph from the West

Skies: Mostly clear

Species Total: 39

• Black Vulture – approximately 10
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 20
• Snow Goose – approximately 2500
• Canada Goose – approximately 250
• Common Merganser – 4
• Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 adult
• Red-tailed Hawk – 5, 4 adults, 1 immature
• Killdeer – 1, heard only
• Wilson's Snipe – 2, flushed from the field below “No Hang Glider” Hill
• Mourning Dove – 2
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – 2
• Downy Woodpecker – 2
• Eastern Phoebe – 2
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 25
• Fish Crow – 3
• Tree Swallow – approximately 30
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 2
• Carolina Wren – 3
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 25
• American Robin – approximately 150
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• European Starling – approximately 100
• Eastern Towhee – 5
• Field Sparrow – 3, all singing
• Savannah Sparrow – 1
• Song Sparrow – approximately 50
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 50
• Dark-eyed Junco – 4
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
• Eastern Meadowlark – 4
• Rusty Blackbird – 1
• Common Grackle – 18
• Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 15
• House Finch – 3
• American Goldfinch – 1, heard only

The Stroud Preserve, 19 March 2013

Spring is slowly coming around. The average species count for my last five visits is 42 and the average count for the five visits prior to that is 33. So things are looking up! Where I am finding the most bird activity is in the lowland riparian areas around the Brandywine and the creeks that flow into it. This is a change from a few weeks ago when I was finding larger mixed flocks of sparrows and such in the brushy undergrowth areas of the uplands. The Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows are being replaced by Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins. 

My most exciting birds of the day were still the Icterids. I started off the day with 14 Eastern Meadowlarks in the same spot where I saw 16 last Friday. I had an exceptional view of a male Rusty Blackbird that was mixed in with a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds and Starlings near Creek Road entrance of the preserve.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for signs of nesting Fish Crows. I still seeing them in the preserve albeit in smaller numbers than a month ago. I have also been seeing and hearing Fish Crows at my house in downtown West Chester. Over the weekend I hear two Fish Crows calling down the street. A few minutes later, I found two crows one of them breaking off small branches of from a tree and flying off with them. I don’t know for sure if these were the Fish Crows that I heard calling, but if it was it would be pretty cool!

Start time: 10:30

End time: 1:00

Temp: 34-43°

Wind: 6 mph from the NNW

Skies: light rain to start be coming partly cloudy and sunny by the end.

Species Total: 41

• Great Blue Heron – 2
• Black Vulture – approximately 10
• Turkey Vulture – approximately 25
• Canada Goose – approximately 150
• Wood Duck – 2
• Common Merganser – 4
• Red-tailed Hawk – 5, 4 adults, 1 immature. This immature has been occupying the area around the bridge over the Brandywine since last summer. It is distinctive in that it is very pale, the head, in particular, is very pale. Somewhat reminiscent of a light phased Rough-legged Hawk.
• American Kestrel – 1, adult male
• Killdeer – 1, heard only
• Mourning Dove – 1
• Red-bellied Woodpecker – 4
• Downy Woodpecker – 2, heard only
• Hairy Woodpecker – 1
• Northern Flicker – 2
• Eastern Phoebe – 1
• Blue Jay – approximately 10
• American Crow – approximately 20
• Fish Crow – 1
• Tree Swallow – 3
• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
• White-breasted Nuthatch – 6
• Carolina Wren – 5
• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 25
• American Robin – approximately 300. It seemed as if every open space was covered with robins today.
• Northern Mockingbird – 3
• European Starling – approximately 100
• Eastern Towhee – 4
• Field Sparrow – 6, all singing
• Savannah Sparrow – 2
• Song Sparrow – approximately 50
• Swamp Sparrow – 2
• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 25
• Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 10
• Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
• Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 50
• Eastern Meadowlark – 14 in the same location as last Friday
• Rusty Blackbird – 1
• Common Grackle – 3
• Brown-headed Cowbird – 1
• House Finch – 2