Mariton: Changes

Our first bird walk was full of new sights and sounds.  We heard a Yellow-throated Vireo right at the beginning.  Soon after, we heard a Scarlet Tanager.  The Wood Thrushes were singing up a storm, as were the Ovenbirds.  We got a great view of an Ovenbird as it walked along a log, then later flew up in full view to throw its head back and sing.  We also had a great view of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  Some of the new warblers being heard are Parula, Black-throated Green, and Black-throated Blue Warblers.

Rufous-sided Towhees were singing as we walked around the meadows.  We heard Common Yellowthroats in the meadow also.  We saw Bluebirds and Chickadees checking out nest boxes.

The wildflowers are loving this weather and a lot of flowers have popped up seemingly overnight.  The Jack-in-the-Pulpits are already flowering, and I didn’t even see leaves yesterday morning.  Celandine Poppy and Rue Anemone are blooming.  Solomon’s Seal has flower buds, as does the White Baneberry, and some of the Perfoliated Bellwort.  The blossoms from the Spicebush (which were prevalent last week) are all gone and the shrubs are leafed out.  Here is photo of what I believe to be a Wake-Robin or Purple Trillium (Trillium erectum).

Have you ever seen a  Sassafras blossom?  It is a flower that comes and goes so quickly, that most of us probably miss it.  Here is a great photo.  All photos by Carole Mebus.