I spend a lot of time in my yard, or at least a lot of time looking out the window at my yard – probably more than most people. But even so, there is so much time when I’m not able to observe the comings and goings of animals on my property. This is particularly true at night – when I’m asleep and many of our local mammals are more active. I can only watch for so much of the…
Most people are relatively familiar with blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), even if only from a menu at a seafood restaurant. This popular edible bivalve (a shellfish with a hinged pair of shells) is circumpolar in its range, and in the western Atlantic Ocean extends as far south as South Carolina. Unlike the ribbed mussel that is commonly found in salt marshes and brackish water areas, the blue mussel is more common along rocky saltwater shorelines. These rocky areas in which…
That’s what Punxsutawney Phil said anyway. I say 6 weeks and 4 days, since the official first day of spring (the vernal equinox) is March 20th. In early March after we’ve had a few pleasant days and folks start remarking that “spring is here” I’m always the first one to chime in and remind them that winter (i.e., cold, snow, nor’easters, etc.) is not over yet. In fact, sometimes it refuses to go away even after the official first day…
For many people the New Year is a time for making resolutions. For me, it’s a great time for reflecting on what I’ve accomplished in the past year and setting intentions and goals for the new year to come in terms of nature study. Below is a run down of how I did on my 2020 goals, as well as what I hope to accomplish in 2021. My goals for 2020 included: 1. Post to Seashore to Forest Floor regularly. — I…
I love the way everything looks immediately after it snows. The freshly blanketed world becomes a blank sheet of white paper and the animals and birds get to write the first lines of that day’s story with their tracks. Unfortunately, the snow on Cape Cod is long gone after a couple 50-degree rainy days last week, but I was able to do a little bit of exploring while it lasted. I encountered tracks of numerous species just within my own…
2020 has been hard for everyone. From canceled activities to isolation from friends and family, to record setting hurricane and fire seasons across the country. Despite all of this year’s COVID-, environmental- and political-craziness, there are still many things I am thankful for. In addition to the Thanksgiving toad I came across on my rainy walk this morning (see cover photo above), below are just ten of the nature-related things I’m grateful for this year. 1. Abundant and beautiful local…
These days, with globalization driving long-distance dispersal of species ranging from fungi to insects to plants, the term “invasive species” gets used a lot. To me, there is a difference between “non-native” and “invasive”. Although both terms refer to an organism that was not found here prior to colonialism, the term “invasive” is typically reserved for organisms that have not only established outside their native range, but have thrived and spread to the point of being a nuisance and can…
On a recent walk through the woods I stepped over what I thought was a lost gray shoelace or strap amidst the leaves in the center of the trail. I took another step or two before I decided that that interpretation wasn’t quite right, and I turned around to have a better look at this strange item in the trail. I’m glad I did, as it turned out to be a ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) partially obscured by the fallen…
We found this little guy along the edge of a forested trail on Sunday. While it’s obviously a mouse, sometimes identifying which mouse species you’re looking at can be a little tricky. White-footed mice have a dark brown back, orange-brown sides, a white belly, and, as the name implies: white feet. The head and body are approximately 3.5 inches long, with the tail adding another 3 inches to its overall length. Although white-footed mice can be easily confused with the…
I often hear common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) before I see them. Common along wetlands, streams and bogs, common yellowthroats are fairly secretive, preferring to stay relatively hidden in dense bushes and thickets. Despite his bright yellow chest and bold face, even the male can be hard to spot among thick foliage if he holds still, particularly since the upper parts of his body are a drab olive-yellow. But his voice will certainly catch your attention: wichety-wichety-wichety. Click here to check…