Bull Frog - March 28, 2008

It’s around 5 pm and I’m walking home when I spy this bull frog in the fen. Last night there was 2+ inches of snow. It must be hard being an amphibian.

Snow Again - March 28 2008

We got a few inches of snow last night. I love snow but I’m ready for spring. It does look pretty though.

Here’s a dogwood.

Here an animal come out of Turtle Hill then decided to go back.

Red Oak

Rabbit & Squirrel Tracks in Snow - March 28 2008

Rabbit tracks look like a “Y”.

Squirrel tracks look like a “W”

 

Red Oak Leaf Melting into the Snow - March 9, 2008

IMG_2265, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

I think it’s interesting how leafs and other objects will melt into the snow.

Squirrel Tracks in the snow - Feb 5, 2008

Squirrel Tracks in the snow, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Squirrel tracks look like a “W”. Their front feet touch first then their back feet come on the outside the land in front. Rabbit tracks look are similar except they look like the letter”Y”.

Bird Sightings - March 2007

 

IMG_6584Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

I am seeing so many birds here in early March. Here are a few:

Mute Swan tucked to keep warm.

Canadian Goose

This blurry picture is an American Wigeon.

Here’s a ring neck duck

Mallards

This blurry little bird is a male red winged blackbird. He is a sure sign that spring is not too far away.

A pair of sandhill cranes making their loud presence know.

Blue Heron sitting on the top of a snag in the fen

Seeds on the snow Feb 2007

IMG_6410

Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

I have been noticing that there are quite a few tree seeds on the snow. This one is from a waver ash tree. Our waver ash trees seem to be favorites of ground hogs that can often be found munching away on this in the fall.

This red fluffy seed is from a staghorn sumac. These are edible by humans, and they can be but in boiling water to make a tea. I have seen blue jays eating these in the winter when there probably isn’t much else to eat.

This winged seed is from an ash tree I believe.

Early Bird - Feb 12, 2007

IMG_6378Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.Here’s a robin that’s come home early. They are in fairly large flock. They are eating berries from some of the shrubs around main camp.

Snowy Morning - Jan 31 2007 on Massasauga Trail

 IMG_6324

 Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

 

East side of Dining Hall.

Mute Swan protecting its territory on Lake Shavehead - Jan 24, 2007

While I am looking for another glimpse of the bald eagle I see this group of 7 swans that I’ve never seen before. I don’t know if the 7 swans being chased are Trumpeter or Tundra swans, but whatever they are the Mute swan is not interested in having them on the lake.IMG_6063_crop Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here the mute swan enters the picture.