Now that the rains have subsided, it's a great time to clean up any mess from the storm and get the natural area looking "natural" again.
Meet at 9 a.m. at the end of Green Way for a few hours of active conservation. Please join the folks from Fyke Nature Association to spruce up the preserve. Coordinator is Marsh Warden Mike Limatola.
See you Saturday!
An easy one -- unfortunately downed by the big storm.
Did a quick trip to Hawk Mountain yesterday. The mountain foliage is just starting to awaken, the Eastern Phoebes are returning, and a lone newt was swimming in the Native Plant Garden.
By the Applacahian Trail, heard Red-shouldered Hawk (I think) and a distant Pileated.
Highlight of the trip came on Stony Run Road a few miles from the mountain -- had three American Kestrels perched together on the same wire (left). Of course, the lighting stunk and they flew before I could get a decent shot.
Rob Fanning reports he saw the following birds at the CF on Saturday
-YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER--my earliest at CF (prev. 3/28)
-Red-shouldered Hawk; Red-tail
-Phoebe (4+)
-RC Kinglet
-PIED-BILLED GREBE--continuing
-DC Corm--cont.
-GW Teal (11); Hooded Merg (3); Shoveler
We took this fish shot on Sunday and were trying to figure what the heck it is. Two alert readers fathomed guesses. One said carp, the other said suckerfish.
I asked a fish-minded naturalist pal what we thought. His reply:
"If I had to place a bet, I would put my money on the creek chubsucker. Bring me a specimen and I can tell you for certain." (Thanks, BB.)
Can't really bring in a specimen, so I guess we'll never know for sure. I do know that the fish definitely did not look Latin. "Loch Appert Monster" remains a possibility.