Garter Snake in cellar

Had to escort a wee Garter Snake out of the cellar today.

Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth Larva

A Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth Larva 

(Spodoptera ornithogalli) visited our cherry tomatoes.

Giant Swallowtail Caterpillars

Found 5 Giant Swallowtail caterpillars on Rue plants 
in the Play-Area Butterfly Nursery.

Strutting Turkey

While on a brief walk around the neighborhood with Mom two days ago, we saw this Tom Turkey strutting   A hen was watching from across the street.

Bit blurry as was rushing to get the shot before the turkey dropped his feathers.

Spider Webs

Cutting across our neighbors' lawns to tend to some potted veggies I spotted spider webs. 

This web was over 5 feet tall.

The blurry tan figure on the left is a deer wondering what I'm doing.

In this close-up I see the face of a bird on the spider's back.

Cottonwood Snow

Not a great video, but on Memorial Day a local Cottonwood tree was making flurries.

Cardinal Chick rescue

Yesterday I wrested the baby Cardinal away from a black cat! Popped the chick in a compost cup I was carrying and snapped this pic before returning the baby to the nest.  

The 2 other eggs remain unhatched.

Phoebe call

A pair of Phoebe flitting about in the White Oak.

(Not a great video, but their tispy call can be heard despite a vocal Robin.)

Robins Nesting

This is a screen-grab from an Arlo-camera neighbors have set up in a Boxwood Bush by their front door.  These neighbors also have a second Robin's nest in another bush, not far from this one.

(Thanks for the pics Gunther.)

Cardinal Offspring

Cardinal babies are progressing....

Donkey

Not local nature, but just have to add these photos my sister took of Mom enjoying a donkey at Vassar Farms' annual Plant Sale.

Lovely Spring Day -- May 6, 2019

Early morning bird-song

Recorded this snippet to hear a Hermit Thrush, but can also hear many others.

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More flowers in bloom....

  

Crabapple

Bleeding Heart

The lowly Dandelion

Beautiful Grape Hyacinth (muscari)

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When a female Cardinal kept flying out of a bush North of the house I had to check......yep, a nest.  With 3 wee eggs.

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And all day we can hear an Oriole calling from the tree tops.

(despite the ubiquitous airplane)

More Spring Flowers

Spring's moving along

Pretty raindrops on Eastern Hemlocks after a strong early morning thunderstorm.

Spring Flowers

  

Pachysandra

Forsythia

Tulips

Daffodils

Hyacinths

Red-backed Salamander & Chionodoxa

Opening up the Lily garden for the season today, I inadvertently uncovered a napping Red-backed Salamander.

While the Chionodoxa are blooming in the triangle-garden.

Garter Snake & Spring-Peepers

Yesterday we had a Garter Snake waiting by the front door, then Peepers serenading at night.

Peepers calling

Snowfall

Lovely snow-fall a few nights ago.  

Unfortunately most of it was gone by the end of the day.

Bluebirds

Flashback

Feb. 16, 2017 we had 5 bluebirds visiting by our back patio.  The summer of 2016 we had bluebirds successfully fledge 3.  Could have been the same family.  No luck keeping bluebirds in 2018 as we were overrun by house-sparrows.  We shall see how we do this year.  Here's hoping for lots of bluebirds!

Crows and Frost

Lately we've had many crows passing through the neighborhood.

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Yesterday morning, while the temperature was still below zero, we had lovely frost on the East facing windowpanes.

Peanut Squirrels

Squirrel at the back window waiting for a peanut.

They have me trained.

Male Turkey Patrol

The 5 male turkeys passed through the yard.