2.19.2011

Warm and Sunny

February has been a month of contrast: snow, temps in the teens, sun, temps in the upper 70s...in other words, perfectly normal.

Yesterday was a fine day. It was a bit windy, but beautiful otherwise. The sun was shining and the temperature climbed toward 80. Treebeard and I walked our boundary line just to see what was about.

In the wooded portion of our property we saw a few things that made us smile...

May apple, also known as American mandrake, just beginning to emerge. 

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A lead phase red-backed salamander temporarily caught up in a bit of web.
A tiny female hazelnut flower...
along side the large male catkins.




We decided to stroll down to the millpond to see if one of the alligators might be out sunning. No alligator, but we did catch a fleeting glimpse of a mink moving through the rip rap at the spillway. He would not cooperate for a better photo.
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There were plenty of turtles out catching some rays. Unfortunately they were all too far away for a reasonable photo. This one appears to be either a slider or a cooter. I can't make a more definitive ID because I couldn't see the necessary field marks.




We saw one snake while we were out. This eastern kingsnake was enjoying the last of the warm afternoon sun. If he continues to hang out in this area he will enjoy plenty of opportunities to hunt. This area has a large population of cottonmouths, particularly in the early spring when they emerge from their hibernacula.
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2.09.2011

Teaser

Yesterday it was sunny with highs in the 50s and dandelions were attracting bees.

 

Tonight it is supposed to snow...February has always been a fickle month.
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Sunday in the Swamp

 

 

 

 
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