Friday, July 2, 2010

Quiet days of summer

The birds have been pretty quiet these days, but truth be told, we haven't been out birding much - just one long walk through the nature preserve then back to work. When the birds aren't about, though, we tend to notice other animals.

This green and golden spider was tending a web in the Rhododendron shrub near our building.




I'll have to find an arachnologist to help with the identification, since I know very little about arthropods. In class Arachnida there are eleven orders, if this is an 'orb weaver spider' then it's in the order Araneae, which comprises three suborders, and I should probably stop here, since I'm really showing my ignorance.

Okay, I think it's time for a bird list here.

Wild Turkey
Killdeer
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Flicker
Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Willow Flycatcher
Blue Jay
American Crow
Cedar Waxwing

European Starling
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Gray Catbird
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
House Wren
Yellow Warbler
Northern Cardinal

American Goldfinch
House Finch
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
House Sparrow
Eastern Kingbird - Lynn saw it as she was leaving work Friday afternoon.

That's it - twenty seven species for the week.


Orange Daylily, Hemerocallis fulva, in front of A-21

Daylilies are blooming in many a garden now. The petals are edible, a sweet and succulent addition to a salad - try one! But please make sure you don't pick a Tiger Lily - it's not the same plant.

And, it's been quite a while since I mentioned the World Cup - but I've been following all of the games. Brazil just LOST to the Netherlands. Uruguay plays Ghana later this afternoon. Tomorrow's games - Argentina vs Germany and Spain vs Paraguay promise to be just as tough as the one just played. By next Friday afternoon, I'll be reporting who has made the final - but it likely won't be news to anyone!

ciao, and have a great weekend - here in Connecticut it's supposed to be a beautiful one - high summer, with dry air and temperatures in the 80's to low 90's.
Sue

No comments:

Post a Comment