Cedar Apple Rust

I went outside after the rain with my camera to capture water droplets on leaves. I really enjoy taking photographs when the weather is overcast. The lack of sunshine enables colors to be more distinct and vibrant.  I caught a splash of bright orange within the stand of junipers from the corner of my eye. A closer inspection revealed an intriguing, unusually shaped and rarely seen organism that I had only read about - Cedar Apple Rust.

This fungus needs two host plants in order to live. On this native juniper, Juniperus viginiana, it has produced this very showy gall. (It looks a bit like a sea anemone or sea urchin.) It also needs an apple or crabapple tree near by to finish its life cycle.

White Throated Sparrow

Today I saw and identified a white throated sparrow. It is the first time I have ever seen one. It has two little patches of yellow on the top of it's head, in addition to a white throat and black and white stripes on its head.

Where Are the Birds?

We had an early start to spring which means an early season of hatching and growth of insects as well as plants. The robins were here in numbers early, as were the phoebes, and many of the winter visitors to feeders must be concentrating on the insects for food. I haven't seen a titmouse, nuthatch, woodpecker or flicker in weeks and a single chickadee appears once in a while. The house sparrows and house finches are still regulars though. I haven't seen the juncos in a few days, so I guess they finally headed north. But I am still waiting for the arrival of the wrens, cat birds, mockingbirds and Baltimore oriole.

Moths and Peepers

I was out tonight and when I got home, there were about eight moths flying around the porch light AND the spring peepers were singing! Plus Jupiter and Venus are shining very brightly in the Western sky. What a lovely spring evening in late winter!

The Great Backyard Bird Count 2012 Tallies

Saturday, February 18, 2012
Location: The Family Homestead, total of 13 acres
A mix of decidous woods, wetlands, suburban backyards, small pond and stream.

Birds observed through the course of about five hours:
Mallard - 2
Turkey Vulture - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Mourning Dove - 12
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Blue Jay - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
European Starling - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 9
Northern Cardinal - 3
House Finch - 4
 House Sparrow - 12

Sunday, February 19, 2012
Location: John Chanda Park, Stratford, CT
A large pond, deciduous woods, ball field and playground.

Birds observed in 15 minutes time:
Canada Goose - 53
Mallard - 3
American Robin - 1

Monday, February 20, 2012
Location 1: at the backyard feeders:

Birds observed in 15 minutes time:
Mourning Dove - 6
Dark-eyed Junco - 3
House Sparrow - 2

Location 2: Dunkin Donuts parking lot outside Cracker Barrel Restaurant, Milford, CT

Birds observed in 5 minutes:
Herring Gull - 12

Location 3: Woodmont Beach, Milford, CT
A beach along Long Island Sound

Birds observed in 30 minutes:
Herring Gull - 75
Rock Pigeon - 4
Monk Parakeet - 4

Location 4: Silver Sands State Park, Milford, CT
A beach with marshlands along Long Island Sound


Birds observed in one hour (not all species recorded):
Mallard - 2
duck sp. - 11
Herring Gull - 18

Location 5: back home in front yard:

Birds observed flying overhead:
10 Monk Parakeets

I really enjoyed participating in this count. I am a bit disappointed that my "regulars" didn't show up at the feeders or down at the pond. I so wanted to include them in the count to let the Cornell folks know about the variety of birds that frequent the Family Homestead.

This is the Weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count

Yesterday began the annual weekend long bird count sponsored by the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. It goes on until Monday, February 20th.

This will be the first year that I participate and I hope to continue to do so each year for as long as I am able. February 20th happens to be my birthday, can't think of a better thing to do to celebrate than to spend some time with my feathered friends! Its a good excuse to get out to a nature preserve too!

I'll keep you posted on the species I was able to see and hope to get some good photos too! Going out now to fill all the bird feeders so I can count the visitors when they stop by for their dinner.

February 1, 2012

This first day of February feels like the first day of April or May! So gorgeous!! Already the crocuses, daffodils and tulips are up along with dandelions and chickweed. And last night I saw a moth outside the kitchen window!