Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

With the weekend upon me once more and a lack of an update this past weekend (Alison was visiting me so I have a good excuse), I figured I would update with a fun report from the field. On Friday night at about 8:15pm, I decided to go owling (not to be confused with the practices of "planking" or smuggling sheep in the early 12th and 13th centuries). While my goal was to find a Northern Saw-whet Owl ( Aegolius acadicus ), I did end up getting an unexpected lifer Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ) near the Pennypack Farm fence instead. Upon leaving the house and heading up the gravel road that leads to the girls cabins and eventually the back field, I felt the usual feelings of dread, fear, and anticipation at what I might find on my night hike around the Outdoor School property. My adrenalin was pumping as I had elected to walk most of the journey without a headlamp. The looming half moon overhead gave out enough light for my limited human night vision to use to gauge my surroundings. Al...

I've had a whirl of a day. Despite having a cold that started after minicamp this past week, I whisked myself off in pursuit of a Greater White-fronted Goose ( Anser albifrons ) that had been spotted recently among throngs of Canada Geese ( Branta canadensis ) at Peace Valley Park in Doylestown, PA. Reports of Lesser Black-backed Gulls ( Larus fuscus ) and a Red-headed Woodpecker ( Melanerpes erythrocephalus ) were nice treats to look for as well. As I arrived, I looked to my right and surveyed the mass of geese. I knew, or at least suspected, that it was somewhere in that group. So I set off down the path noting the calls of chickadees and sparrows as I went, while a vociferous Northern Mockingbird ( Mimus polyglottos ) sang a garbled remix of wren and sparrow song that made its way through the briars and broken trees near the water's edge. I walked onto a dock that from the looks of it floated in the summer, but due to the drop in water level, was now resting on the reservo...

Given that it's been chilly these past few days, I wasn't expecting to see any waterfowl or larger birds at Great Meadows in Concord. I arrived around noon and looked over the frozen, cattail-rimmed marsh beyond and missed the clamor of the geese and ducks that had occupied it only a few months earlier. I distinctly remembered seeing American Coots ( Fulica americana ) and a radio tagged Northern Harrier ( Circus cyaneus ) last January, but today would be just as much of a joy when it comes to finding birds. Here are some of the many, many pictures I took while freezing my nips off.  "Can you see me?" Named redpoll for the small red cap found on both sexes. Males have a reddish wash on their breast. "I see you." Two's Company A frozen waste surrounded by cattails Canine tracks of sorts. Perhaps fox or coyote? The coldest lodging in all the land at the moment Some Giant Canada Geese ( Br...

Every time you hear the sound of a Canada Goose ( Branta canadensis ) (probably the most common goose in your area if you live in the United States), you cannot deny the sense of wildness in that sound. Every time I have the opportunity to see these birds, I am in awe of their subtle beauty, loyalty to their partners and family groups, and their bugling cries that are uttered from the tight Vs they carve across the autumn sky. Having come so close to getting 300 species on my life list, I decided to scale it back a bit and look for those waterfowl that I admire and love. Featured below are some pictures I took of my trip this very afternoon. Hope you guys enjoy it. Happy birding ^_^. Feeding in the shallows near the Concord River, this small family signaled their presence to the other families of geese in the marsh with their repeated "gor-unk" and "unka-unka-unka" cries. They definitely were enjoying the company of one another and were feeding on whateve...