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Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Nature Notes: June arrives with heat, humidity and plenty of life

I have joked for years about how the plants will hold my house up even if it start to fall apart. This little fern is a volunteer in my house foundation.
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Moss has volunteered in the brick gaps of my walkway and front stoop.
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Much of June so far has been hot and humid although this morning was off to a cooler start. Fortunately I have plenty of shade to cut back somewhat on the heat in my yard.
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Plenty of rain is also helping the plants to thrive and provides some relief from the heat, at least in the mornings and evenings.
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The orientalis plumes below are waving in the wind. You can't see the grasses they are attached too because the butterfly weed is starting to invade them.
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I'm pretty sure the little bird in the next two shots is a pine siskin.
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It's hard to tell with it partially obscured by the tree because the pine siskins, one type of sparrow, and one of the finch types that hang out in my yard are fairly similar.
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The next bird is also one I'm not sure about identifying. I think it's a brown thrasher but since I can't see his beak very well he could be a juvenile American Robin. Brown thrashers have long thin beaks.
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The next two shots are of a carolina wren. There are so many of them in my yard at this point that I've been photographing them a lot in spite of how fast they are.
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Catching the small birds is mostly luck because I hear them and then see a rustling of the leaves and start shooting.
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The nuthatches often take advantage of trees with deep holes which I assume are drilled by the woodpeckers I also spot in the same trees. The nuthatches can drill themselves but I'd be surprised if the can drill as deep as the holes here. Then again, I don't really know that.
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The black eyed susan are beginning to bloom which is one of summer's treats.
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Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods and the post date is Thursday.

11 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

It's great that you see so many birds right there in your own yard!

I'm glad it has cooled down for you a bit. It's too soon to be so hot!

shana said...

Just found your blog, I love it. Found it by typing in "Nodular Melanoma." I see my DERM next week for suspected NM. I noticed a spot on the back of my calf 4 months ago...thought it was a bug. I have a dome shaped blue/black round (almost looks like a blood blister?) spot. It has grown UP the past 3 weeks. I'm 26 with a family history of melanoma, had 2 blistering sunburns when I was little. SO, we'll see. So glad I found you- very uplifting. I too, am fond of gardening and my yard. :)

Blessings,

Shana

kenju said...

Are you sure we don't inhabit the same house? I also have volunteer ferns at my foundation and moss is overtaking the front steps (brick)!!

Cezar and Léia said...

Beautiful Nature notes, fabulous set of pictures!I'm also enchanted by your header, just adorable!
hugs
Léia

NicoleB, Egypt said...

Grin about the house foundation. Get some Efeu (not sure about the translation) and it will cover your house in no time and keep it together ;)

Love the birdies in your Jungle. Over here almost all are gone *sigh* :(

Johnny Nutcase said...

lots of great birds and green stuff! Love it all :)

Leora said...

My black-eyed susans are finally showing their yellow, too.

Love the carolina wren the best. What a great group of birds you captured this week.

ramblingwoods said...

We too have been hot, humid and rainy, now we are just humid and cold. I am looking at the little bird. I don't think it's a siskin as they should have been back up in Canada on their breeding grounds. I am wondering if it is a female purple finch, but I can't see the eyes that well. The other I don't know...good selection for Nature Notes...Michelle

http://graceolsson.com/blog said...

oh


the third and the last..love it


http://graceolsson.com/blog/2010/06/the-brighter-sky-in-tallinn-estonia/

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful photos, Carver! Love all the birds, the nuthatch is one of my favorites. Your unknown could be a catbird. Another bird similiar to the Pine Siskin is a female house finch.

Caron said...

What is that huge insect in the third photo? :o

I don't have much shade like you do. It looks so nice and relaxing.