Happy Winter Solstice!

The winter solstice marks the instant the sun reaches its southernmost point in our sky for the year.  It occurred 12:04 a.m. Universal Time Sunday, December 21st (6:04 a.m. Central Time). In the illustration, the Earth on the right is at winter solstice.

If you look at a schoolroom globe, you’ll see the Tropic of Capricorn some 23.5 degrees south of the equator. This is where the sun is at zenith – or straight overhead – at noontime today. If you look 23.5 degrees south of the north pole, you’ll see the Arctic Circle. Every place north of the Arctic Circle sees no sun at all today. And every place south of the Antarctic Circle sees the sun all day long. Meanwhile, for the rest of us elsewhere on the globe, today brings the southernmost sunrise and the southernmost sunset of the year. North of the equator, it’s the shortest day and the longest night of the year. South of the equator, it’s the year’s longest day.

Click here for a fascinating photo and article about the Solstice at Newgrange in Ireland»

Celestial Trio in December 1st Twilight!

I shot this photo from the meadow this evening, facing southwest.  You might have noticed Jupiter and Venus aligned north to south on the sky's dome recently...two bright stars racing toward the sunset.  Well tonight the moon joins them and this show continues with variations for the next couple of nights and will not be repeated until I'm 101 years old.  That is a long time to wait, so I'm glad I could capture this once-in-a-lifetime event! I hope you'll see it too, so hope for clear skies and get outside right after sunset. 
Remember to keep watching Jupiter, Venus and the Moon»

On December 12 the full moon is the largest and closest since March of 1993!

Guess who came to dinner?

Northern Shrike and Tufted Titmouse were recent visitors to the seed trough area, it was the first spotting for each.  The Shrike is a predator, and it could be that he had the Titmouse for lunch.  If so, I'm glad I didn't see it.  

Taking Stock and Stocking Up

Well, right now I would just like to celebrate the beloved Black-Capped Chickadee, who is stocking up like mad and has been for weeks.  The Black-Capped Chickadee hides seeds and other food items in the bark of trees, and many other places for later recovery, and remembers each of these thousands of hiding places because his brain grows bigger in the fall to accommodate all that information!
The Chickadee's simple-sounding calls have been found to be an extremely complex language. I know this to be true because of the distinct Chickadee conversation that ensues when I appear in the morning with the bucket of birdseed (click on the title to view a video of a guy talking about interacting with the Chickadee. I rest my case).  I love their jaunty bold nature, and they are my favorite winter bird. I am happy that I get to live with them here. 

Going South!

Not me, the birds.  Lately many flocks have visited for a day or a week or more, before heading south.  These last few days I have seen and heard flocks of Cedar Waxwings clustered on shrubs. They leave their berry casings in the empty birdbath. Click the title to hear their song.   Bluebirds have also stopped by for the last few weeks, lending their thrilling colors and sweet song to the surroundings. Of course the old standbys: Black-capped Chickadees, Nuthatches, Juncos, Woodpeckers of all kinds, Cardinals and Flycatchers are in full seed-hoarding swing. Punctuating it all is the constant musical conversation of the many families of Robins who make me think of Spring, if I close my eyes.

Full Moon October 14

On Tuesday, October 14th, the full moon rises in these parts at 6:00 p.m., but the sun doesn't set until 6:26 p.m., so the moon will be well up before it gets dark and might look much like it does in this photo.  

On Wednesday the moon rises at 6:29 p.m., just a few minutes after sunset. 

Then on Thursday the still robust waning gibbous moon rises a full half hour after the sun sets at 6:24 p.m.  We'll hope for clear skies these next few nights.  

Here is a John Haines poem I love. I hope you like it:

If the Owl Calls Again

at dusk
from the island in the river,
and it’s not too cold,

I’ll wait for the moon
to rise,
then take wing and glide
to meet him.

We will not speak,
but hooded against the frost
soar above
the alder flats, searching
with tawny eyes.

And then we’ll sit
in the shadowy spruce
and pick the bones
of careless mice,

while the long moon drifts
toward Asia
and the river mutters
in its icy bed.

And when the morning climbs
the limbs
we’ll part without a sound,

fulfilled, floating
homeward as
the cold world awakens.

–John Haines

R.I.P. Magnificent Creature

"I have looked upon those brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore." - from a poem by William Butler Yeats

I just heard that someone killed a 600-pound black bear not far from here, with a bow and arrow. He could have been our visiting bear, the very one I watched casually amble along the entire length of our sidewalk last fall.  His size and beauty took my breath away, and I was amazed at how quietly and gracefully he slipped into the underbrush.  Bears are pretty rare in these parts and it is exciting to see one, but some humans lobbied relentlessly until they were granted permission to hunt them.  What could possibly motivate someone to kill a rare and beautiful animal? Did he do it to get meat to feed his family? No, this was a killing for killing's sake, most likely motivated by a craving to bring home a huge trophy animal and mount its head on the wall. These animals deserve respect, and they have a right to live. Rest in peace, beautiful bear, I hope your suffering was brief.

Barred Owls in the Night

The sounds of Barred Owls are for me the most exciting and intriguing of Fall.  Last night a pair were calling to each other very nearby, then suddenly they were right outside my window making "a raucous jumble of cackles, hoots, caws, and gurgles."  Click here, then scroll down the page and click on "listen to songs of this species" »
and you will hear the wild stuff I heard last night! 

Here is an audio clip of what you might typically hear: a male's call»

By the way, the Great Horned Owl is the Barred Owl's only natural enemy.  The Great Horned can be heard each night, too.

You guessed it! Cicada adult emerging from nymph shell!

Photo by my brother Jack in St. Joseph, MN: The adult cicada is emerging from the shell in which it lived as a nymph. (Down south they sometimes call them dry flies, because of the shells they leave behind.) After they hatch they live in the ground as a nymphs, subsisting on root juice. Most cicadas go through a life cycle that lasts from two to five years. Some species have much longer life cycles, e.g., such as the North American genus, Magicicada, which has a number of distinct "broods" that go through either a 17-year or, in the American South, a 13-year life cycle. These long life cycles are an adaptation to predators such as the cicada killer wasp and praying mantis, as a predator could not regularly fall into synchrony with the cicadas. Both 13 and 17 are prime numbers, so while a cicada with a 15-year life cycle could be preyed upon by a predator with a three- or five-year life cycle, the 13- and 17-year cycles allow them to stop the predators falling into step.

Wild Cucumber, a prolific climber

Perhaps you've noticed the masses of white flowers of the wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) climbing shrubs and trees or branching out over the tops of grasses and plants in fields and meadows. Close inspection reveals dramatic tendrils and large spiky green seed pods. The pods may smell and taste like cucumber, but they are not edible.  Gardeners may consider them weeds, but I think of them as late summer's necklace.

Cup of Earl Grey?

That would be perfect!  Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), also known as Bee Balm, is one of my favorite fragrant herbs (it's a member of the mint family), and I love to crush a leaf and inhale.  You can make tea from fresh or dried leaves, it's good with a little honey added.

Elderberries in Bloom!

One beautiful elderberry bush stands in the meadow this year...a new resident.

The white flowers can be brewed into wines and champagne, or you can lightly batter and fry into fritters, or try stirring them into pancake batter!

The ripe berries, cleaned and cooked, can be made into wine, extracts, syrups, pies, and jams.  I made elderberry wine in the old days, my mouth waters to think of it.  I used a Foley food mill to separate the seeds from the pulp.  If you make elderberry wine and need someone to test it, I stand ready.

Mars By a Nose!

Lots of interesting planet viewing lately: Saturn and Mars are marching together across the sky...tonight they are piggyback. Thursday, July 10th, the two will be even closer to each other. If you happen to look out in the wee hours, you will notice an unusually large and bright star in the southern sky, but it's not a star, it's Jupiter.  Spica, a star, and also very bright, is close to the first quarter moon tonight. 
Check out the Earth & Sky website for details»

The Summer Moon

The full "Buck Moon" takes place this year at 3:00 a.m. CDT, on July 18th. The buck moon is so called because July is the time when antlers of young bucks push out in coatings of velvety fur. The July full moon is also often called the Full Thunder Moon, or the Full Hay Moon. 
See the current moon phase»

Not your everyday visitor - UPDATE!

* As darkness fell tonight she and the babe took flight from the upstairs window, hooray!

This Hoary Bat with her baby clinging to her was found like this on the ground early this morning.  She hissed with each snap of the camera shutter. We placed her in a dog kennel in the woods out of harm's way for the day, with the hope that she will recover and fly away at dusk when we open the door from the high-altitude second story window. "Strong, tough, and beautiful, the hoary bat stands out among American bat species for its unusual adaptability . . ."
The Little-known World of Hoary Bats»
Learn all about Bats and how you can help them»

Night Lights

Spring's freshness is waning and summer is settling in, bringing new pleasures to our days and nights. Every type of flora and fauna is lush and abundant this year, and Fireflies are no exception.  In our family we call them lightning bugs.

A required event each day after dark is a walk in the meadow to witness the lights twinkling just above the ground and also those twinkling above in our Milky Way galaxy.

Click here to learn about lightning bugs»

Dappled Fawns

Gary Egger, master stalker of all things wild, sent this shot of two White-tailed Deer fawns, a good illustration of how their beautiful spotted coats provide camouflage in the dappled light of the forest undergrowth.  Many of the fawns' predators see in black-and-white, and may not be able to see a fawn crouching in the undergrowth.  Fawns will keep their spots for about 3 months.

Ready on runway niner!

At 8:00 this morning I checked the Robin's nest over the deck and caught this tufted guy getting ready to leave the nest (very serious business).  Shortly after this photo was taken he became airborne and made one long shallow glide which ended in a two-point landing on the back lawn.

Cool facts: Baby robins cannot fly for the first few days after they leave the nest. Their parents lead them to low shrubs and trees where they first learn to climb and jump. Within a day or two, their wings grow stronger and they begin to take short flights. Their parents continue to feed them, and within a week or two, they are ready to be on their own. When the young are strong enough, the robins may roost in big groups.

Male robins may watch over the fledging young, while the female incubates the next clutch of eggs.  Robins nest up to three times per year.

This photo was taken yesterday, same nest.

Earthy Delights

Here is my haul from the morning of May 14th.  This is the first time I've hunted with some knowledge to guide me, thanks to the advice of a friend who is an expert at finding edibles.  I found these large ones around a fresh-ish Elm stump in my own back yard.  

Beaking News

For one heart-stopping moment each,  three warblers I have never before seen appeared in the thicket outside the kitchen window. First, a Yellow-rumped Warbler landed, then turned away as if to show off his brilliant backside. Next, a dashing little Common Yellowthroat in (uncommon) black mask paused just long enough for me to grab a thorough look.  Just when I thought it was safe to take a sip of coffee a Blackburnian Warbler appeared.  A Warbler I hear all day outside my office window, is the Tennessee Warbler, I consider its high-pitched song the sweetest of them all.  The following audio clip is close to what I hear. Listen»

Here is a great birding blog from a Duluth resident:Laura's Birding Blog»

Warblers Uncovered!

This cool Spring means the leaves are emerging very gradually, so there is very little protective cover between the elusive little Warblers and my field glasses. Our local Yellow Warblers are bright and abundant this year.  Listen to Yellow Warbler»

Songs and Trills all the day long

These are the magic days: when every single songbird (it seems) is here and in full voice from daybreak until dusk, when toads take over and fill the rest of the evening with their mesmerizing trill.  Listen to Toads»
This is the sweet, fleeting time when the woods are dotted with Anemone, Violet and Bellwort.

The View Over the Footboard

Being bedridden this time of year has its compensations:  With the body quiet, the eyes, ears and nose are finely-tuned to everything that is happening, and a lot is happening, just outside the bedroom window.  What I hear: the loud rattling of a Sandhill Crane pair in the backwater, Robins, American Redstarts (first warblers I've heard), Grosbeaks, Orioles, Goldfinches and other finches, White-throated Sparrows,  Indigo Bunting, to name just a few, as well as all the permanent residents.  What I see:  The Robin couple swooping in and out of their nest in the eave, the mother mostly sitting, and watching...me. Beyond the nest is constant scurrying, swooping, pecking, fluttering of various winged and legged creatures who live and work in the tall Black Walnut treetop village.

What I smell: Grass!!

Tiny Bloodroot brings hope for Spring

In our back woodlot it is a banner year for Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadesis), the jaunty little white flower with the impressive broad leaves. Native Americans used the blood-red juice from the root as a dye, and warriors painted their faces with it and maidens their bodies. Native Americans, early settlers and herbal practitioners have prescribed Bloodroot for medical conditions ranging from skin cancers to ringworm, warts and other fungal growths. Researchers are investigating the root's value in cancer treatment.

Little Foxes in the night

At 10:00 last night on a dirt road, a little fox face, mostly ears, appeared in our headlamps. We stopped. The kit watched us, curious, unafraid, then continued snuffling the ground right outside the car.  We came upon two more, quietly exploring, ears erect and white tipped tails (brushes) prominent. One more small one appeared before we left the four to their work in the dark...we hoped their parents weren't far away...

Happy Earth Day to Our Beautiful Planet

Here is my Earth Day gift to you. It is an article by Michael Pollan from Sunday's New York Times Magazine - The Green Issue. It is thought-provoking and really answers the question: Why Bother?
Why Bother? from the New York Times»

The Sweet Songs of Sparrows

Song Sparrows have been around for awhile, but White-throated Sparrows have recently joined them in the Symphony of Spring. White Throated Sparrow song»

See a Song Sparrow singing a few of its many complex and beautiful melodies: Song Sparrow video»
 

Guess who came to breakfast?

A male Pileated Woodpecker had a suet snack in the window box outside our kitchen window this morning.  Note the suet crumbs on his beak.  He flew to a nearby tree when I lowered the camera, but the suet crumbs stuck to his beak (see second photo)!

Cool Facts
The Pileated Woodpecker digs characteristically rectangular holes in trees to find ants. These excavations can be so broad and deep that they can cause small trees to break in half.
A Pileated Woodpecker pair stays together on its territory all year round. It will defend the territory in all seasons, but will tolerate floaters during the winter. Read more»

The Howling

Last night the Wood Frogs were calling in great numbers Listen here»
At 3:30 AM I awoke to a very loud howling (probably coyote) just outside the house. The pups never stirred. Today a brisk southwesterly wind will bring (or, "usher in" as the meteorologists like to say) sixty degree temps. Hoorah!

Wood Frogs are the first to be heard

The Wood Frog's call is often mistaken for quacking ducks. Listen here»

Dolphin Saves Whales

In case you have not heard about the altruistic action of a dolphin in New Zealand, take a look at this blog entry:  Article»

Spring will arrive with the Warblers!

April 12th on Lake Pepin on the Upper Mississippi River Valley flyway: Dreaming of a warm, sunny meadow and the song of the Meadowlark.  Awoke to snow but the sounds of Spring: Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Phoebes, Robins, and many others. Before the snow, flocks of Sandhill Cranes stopped in the backwaters of the river, across from my office window. No wood frogs yet.