The last week in December was a very busy week. Many visitors were in town and it seemed most of them were at the Museum. Even with all of the activity, on Saturday (12/31) the Red Wolves were resting, as they often do in the afternoon, at the top of the enclosure and up near the fence. [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Two Birds
December 29th, 2011Besides the familiar American Robin and Eastern Bluebird, the Hermit Thrush is the only other thrush that you’re likely to encounter in our area during winter. If you have a desire to see a Hermit Thrush during this time of year it’s best to look in low lying areas and riparian woodlands. More importantly, your [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Wetlands are Wonderful!
December 27th, 2011A few weeks ago I received an email from Ashley Johnson telling me that she had placed in the top ten out of a field of 825 entrants in the Friends of Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District’s poster contest, “Wetlands are Wonderful.” Here’s Ashley accepting her Top Ten Award at the Friends of the District Banquet held [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Great White…
December 24th, 2011It was dusk, the end of the day (12/22). It had been overcast most of the day with only a brief peek of sunshine at mid day. The rain started about 3 PM, cats and dogs at times, and continued until closing. At 4:50 PM the outdoor exhibits were clear except for one family watching the [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Mist
December 22nd, 2011The exceptionally warm, moisture saturated air over the Wetlands yesterday created a cloud of mist above the water. A warm damp day, too warm for December 21, but quite pleasing to the eye. What will today bring, besides the first day of winter? Read the rest of this entry »
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Nothing but Butter Butts
December 19th, 2011Back in October I posted a series of photos of fall plumaged Cape May Warblers feeding on aphids. Today it’s Yellow-rumped Warblers. Yellow-rumped Warblers have been variously known or referred to as Myrtle Warblers, Butter Butts, Dendroica coronata and Setophaga coronata. By whatever name, they’re still the same species and are the most often encountered warbler during North Carolina’s winter [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Parts on the pavement
December 15th, 2011This (above) is what greeted me as I made my rounds during the morning of 10 December, a Saturday. Obviously, the white and beige colored splatters are bird droppings. But what bird, and what are the larger brown masses? “Oh good,” I whispered to myself, “another mystery to solve.” I thought at first that the [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Herding Shiners
December 12th, 2011Back in October I expressed some concern for our local fish eating birds’ ability to see their prey due to the turbidity of the water in our Wetlands caused by the Red Swamp Crayfish. I specifically mentioned our winter resident Hooded Mergansers who prey upon the Golden Shiners that live in the Wetlands. After observing [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Treefrog caught off guard
December 9th, 2011Caught out in the cold yesterday was a somewhat emaciated young Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea). The frog was seen amongst the horesetail growing in front of the Butterfly House. It was apparently lured out of hibernation by the warm temperatures and rain of the night before. This, however, is December and fronts that carry precipitation [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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