I'm Still Here

I have not been very good about updating my blog.  Part of that is laziness, part focusing on doing my projects more than documenting them, but, mostly, I think, because I could not access my blog through my smartphone.  (I am posting this from the computer.)

I hate posting without pictures.

Here's hoping that I've resolved the problem and can post from my phone...or, if not, that I will begin posting again the old-fashioned way. 

Not Bad Idea!

It is our first spring day near 70°F...I am loving it. :)

I got some work done out front, and then took a break and walked down our wooded slope.  I don't explore this part of the property as much as I should; it borders our only neighbor on four sides.

On my walk back up the slope, I came across a section that has a patch of the dreaded Japanese knotweed.   I battle it periodically, but have yet to eradicate it.  This section is at the edge of the mini-woodland (reclaimed farmland--mostly locust trees, with a few sugar maples, elms, and wild black cherry).   It is also fairly close to where I dug my pond (Phase II...dug, filled with water, but the liner is not yet disguised).

So, it suddenly occurs to me that I could dig a vernal pond there--put down a liner, and fill it back up with the woodsy soil and fallen "driftwood".  This would give me more incentive to dig up the Japanese knotweed and smother any remaining roots that I may miss.  At least, I hope it would.  This would do double duty:  provide habitat while eradicating a horribly invasive species.

I had to get this posted...not that I expect to forget it, but one never knows.  :)

(I posted this while sitting on a fallen log on our wooded slope...I am enjoying the chorus of spring birds--especially the red-winged blackbirds' song which is the only one I really recognize.  I also had a few other visitors...and hot a close-up of one. )

 I laid an old carpet down a couple of years ago; it has kept it smothered...it is covered in rocks I have saved up for my streambed project.

I must say, a vernal pool would look much better than what I have now.

House Hunting 2018

After showing up at the end of February, I spotted the male bluebird today perched upon their favorite nestbox.  He could have been in the yard countless times between then and now without me having noticed.  He was a welcome sight on this gloomy day. :)

Winter Storm Stella: Birds in the Snow

Although I have been thinking spring for a while, winter dealt us one of the biggest storms I can remember--so far, I believe we got a full two feet of snow!

Between my many treks out to shovel--with frequent breaks, I made sure to put out sunflower seed out for the birds.  I tried to place it where it had some protection from the snow, since it was constantly being buried by the newly falling snow--and inch or two per hour, I believe.

Needless to say, school was closed today--and will be again tomorrow.  Being snowed in has its benefits and one of them was being able to watch and photograph the variety of birds that ventured out into the snow for some free food.

Here are only some of the highlights--I've yet to go through them all:

       

 

Brushpile Birds

Last spring, I created a pretty huge brushpile in the lower section of our property between the hedgerow and the woodland (both of which are still works in progress).  I really had no idea what to do with that section--and I didn't want to mow it or let it get overrun with mugwort.

Creating a huge brushpile there seemed like a logical, if temporary thing to do.  Originally, I figured that, by the time it had pretty much decayed, I would have figured out what to plant there.  Shortly afterward, I think I started wondering about continually refreshing and maintaining a pile there.  Although I still haven't decided, today, I am feeling that that idea has a lot of merit.

I know brushpiles benefit wildlife, but, with the birds utilizing it in the winter, and the likelihood of sparrows nesting there this spring, I may very well want to maintain it for many years to come. :)

Here are my "brushpile bird photos" from today's stroll in the yard--with pretty frigid temperatures and an impending storm coming tomorrow night--12-18 inches of snow predicted (more than we had in snow totals so far this winter, I believe).

First the junco(s):

The actual brushpile--well, part of it...this doesn't show
the full size, nor do it justice.

...and now the sparrows.  There seems to be a pair...and I believe they have nested in the yard before--in my original, smaller brushpile, I believe.

I would be thrilled to have them as regular residents...and create enough habitat to have several breeding pairs.

I'm thinking the brushpile should become a permanent fixture. :)

Snow Day 2017

Having an unexpected day off is nice.



After about two weeks of way above average temperatures in February, I was ready for an early spring--and even hopeful that we'd have no more winter weather.  Last week changed that with overnight temperatures in the single digits.  Although, I knew they were predicting some snow late last night into today, I was hoping to just have a two-hour delay.  That is what I got, but, once I was dressed for work (and not quite ready to go), our school closed.

Being off from work, I decided to finally start sorting through the tons of photos that I've taken.  Since I had been taking pictures, but never getting around to sorting them let alone posting them, I finally pretty much stopped taking pictures (except with my smartphone!).  However, instead of sorting photos, I began taking them again.  With the snow providing a beautiful backdrop, I began snapping picture after picture of the birds that come to the seed I put out for them.

After taking countless pictures, I switched the display from the traditional viewfinder to the digital display screen--that was when I was finally alerted to the fact that there was no memory card in the camera.  I had left it in the computer when transferring my last batch! :(

I will never know if those shots that I thought were so awesome really were.  So, I started again.  I was even able to recapture one shot of a few mourning doves still perched in the same spot in the distant trees.  The rest that I took still have the same mood as those lost forever.

Here are a few of the better ones:

      

 

Despite the snow, spring was in the air.  The trilling calls of the red-winged blackbirds filled the morning air.  Later in the day, I spotted a robin eating the berries from the sumac.  Later, perched outside one of our kitchen windows, the robin, too began singing.

Spring is in the Air

Although, they are not the best shots in the world, I finally got some photos of a red-wing blackbird displaying his epaulets as he calls out feeling those feelings spring tends to bring. :)

Over the past few days, I've enjoyed the gurgling calls and trills of the redwinged blackbirds out in my yard.  They are still hanging out in loose flocks...and they add an air of excitement to the yard.

Spring is in the Air

Despite the dusting of snow still on the ground in the shady areas when I got up, today felt a lot like spring to me--yesterday too.  I was outside both days.  I was actually happy for the snow, since I had planted some of my meadow seeds outside yesterday (more on that in another post), and I am hoping they will go through some more freezing and thawing (although the forecast has us in the 60s this week--and it is only early March).

I took a few shots of some birds that frequent our yard because of the frequent offerings of black oil sunflower seeds.  I was hoping the emerging pussy willow buds would add a sense of spring to the photos of the birds perched there.

These were the bird photos I thought I'd be posting about.  Little did I suspect that my favorite tenants would show up today! :)

Walking into the kitchen, I peered out the window into the side yard...

It always surprises me that I can spot a bird approximately 300 feet away--although, I've been mistaken at times...this time, I felt sure that the bluebirds had come to check out their favorite nestbox in the yard.  (I'm glad I cleaned it out a month or two ago.)  In my excitement, I ran for the camera that I'd left in the other room.  Sure enough, their was a bluebird perched atop the birdhouse.

The photos are not that clear, but clearly the pair has returned (I always assume it is the same pair that I started with...or some of their descendants).  Although I am happy to see a multitude of native birds nest in the yard (and I want more), when the bluebirds return to nest, it always brings me a special kind of joy. ~smile~

 


Last year, for some reason, I was concerned that they would not return.  They did.  However, they only raised one brood instead of the two (sometimes three?) that they normally do--a pair of tree swallows took their favorite box after their first brood fledged.  I'm hoping that they maintain control of that nestbox and are able to raise three broods this year--if my gut is right, it will be an early spring.  If so, perhaps with an early start, they can squeeze in three broods. :)

Staking Claim

The male bluebird is back and staking claim to what appears to be the best nestbox on the property.  Each year, this particular box is used by a bluebird pair.  I'm thrilled to see it is likely they'll be nesting here again--I have to admit that I'd be quite disappointed if I had to go a year without them.

After spotting him last week, I went out and checked out the inside of the box where I saw several strands of grass had been added to the bottom already.  Today, I saw just a few more had been added.  Looking good. :)

Calling Dibs

While chatting with Jeff, something caught my eye out the kitchen window and over halfway across the field--a dark spot on the bluebird house.  After grabbing the binoculars, I confirmed what I suspected and hoped.  The bluebirds are back.  At least the male is, and he is claiming his favorite nestbox in the yard.  That same box has been used by a bluebird pair each year since I put it up...I assume they are the same pair, but I have no way of knowing.

It is that time of year again.  I'll have to keep an eye out on the box and try to have the camera ready.

March Madness

I am not a basketball fan, and I don't follow March Madness, but the title seems somehow appropriate to describe the past week or two.  After being cooped up all winter with little motivation to work on my project during the winter like I normally do, I got outside and got inspired.  Despite the temperatures being below normal over the past two weeks, I've been doing a lot in the yard...every day for more than a week...even after work, I have gone out and dragged myself in when the light was failing.

Mostly I've been focused on the pocket woodland (my "would-be woods" as I've often referred to it). Come summer, this sparsely treed area grows in too thickly for me to get through the paths--and my focus by then has turned to the meadow, pond/stream bed, and various other projects.  Winter allows me access to the "woods" and allows me a chance to assess my progress.  It also exposes the many rocks and boulders along the slope.  Some I want to showcase, while others I want to move to use in the stream bed.

The beauty of the boulders have really motivated me to get this section shaded enough to keep down the weeds so I can enjoy this nearly half-acre part of our yard year round.  I plan to add a lot of trees this year--mostly things I've already got growing, such as the silver maples that have appeared in the meadow, some black cherry trees that I have in pots and in a starter bed, sumac, quaking aspen, black locust, black poplar, (all fast growers) and various other tree seedlings.  I also plan to buy a couple of tulip trees whose flowers I hope to be able to view from above while at the top of the slope.  The slower growing oaks, shagbark hickory, and any others I want to add, will fill in under the shade of the pioneer species.

Crevices for wildlife such as salamanders--I found a few the other day.

Aside from all of my plans for adding trees, understory trees/shrubs, and wildflowers, I have been moving rocks--some quite large.  I am trying my best to maintain the holes, crevices, and possible tunnels for any critters that make them their homes.  At the same time, I am trying to stabilize the slope; many of the rocks are loose and doing nothing to hold back erosion.




I have grand plans for this section and plan to use my favorite park from where I used to live in Western PA as inspiration.  The slope, rocks, and various levels really lend themselves to viewing wildflowers at eye level (as well as at the foot of the path).  I hope it is not too long before I have pictures to post of a more established woodland, replete with wildflowers.

First I had to rake away last years growth to expose the rocks.

Imagine this as a full woodland with trees of various girths, 

understory trees, ferns, and wildflowers. 

"Before" photo..give me a few years for some beautiful "After" shots.

Another beauty for the stream bed.

Originally I pulled this out for the pond/stream bed...but, as I did

with a couple of others, I incorporated it into the hillside slope 

(see below).

The thin, flat rock just right of center didn't have the right presence...

So, I added the rock (from above) which, to me, makes the whole 

composition a thing of beauty.  Just wait until the woodland 

wildflowers grace the slope.  The funny thing is, in the back of 

my mind (although I can't be sure) I have to wonder if I didn't 

take it from that exact spot in the first place! :)