Warm October 2007

In late October, twenty years ago, I remember wearing an winter coat in the morning and a flannel shirt in the afternoon occasionally. This October is HOT. Temperatures in the 80s (F). Little or no rain. Discussing this with a friend, the word we came up with to describe our feelings is surreal. I'm feeling off-center, as are others, as the months that were once cold become warmer, the water in our area slowly disappears over the years of repeated droughts, and the natural cycles seem to waver and wobble from the norms established over centuries. Watching the world change with a critical eye is unnerving. The next great adventure is here. Surviving and thriving in a warming world will definitely be doable, but will require a level of alertness and inventiveness that will challenge us all.

Moorhen Marsh Observations 4/28/2006

Location: Moorhen Marsh Observation
date: 4/28/06
Notes: Saw a muskrat also. Could not raise the sora or Virginia rails with calling.
Number of species: 23
Canada Goose 11
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 2
Lesser Scaup 1
Great Blue Heron 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
American Coot 2
Killdeer 2
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Common Grackle 3
American Goldfinch 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://www.ebird.org) I pasted it from my e-mail.

Moorhen Marsh - 4/29/2006

Location: Moorhen Marsh Observation
date: 4/29/06
Notes: Sora was identified by call: downward whinny. Virginia was doing a call that sounded like a robin "cheep" note from down in the cattails. I've never heard it before and stood there until I had a visual on the Virginia rail running from cattail stand to cattail stand.

Number of species: 23
Canada Goose 20
Wood Duck 9
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 2
Lesser Scaup 1
Great Blue Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 1
Virginia Rail 1
Sora 1
Killdeer 1
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
Wood Thrush 2
American Robin 2
Chipping Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Common Grackle 10
American Goldfinch 4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://www.ebird.org) I modified some technical glitches and typos before posting it to this blog.

2006 March 28th
Temperatures remain cool for March but spring is moving forward regardless. Coltsfoot was up here in central Pennsylvania, tundra swans are moving through and the days are growing longer. Tonight light could still be seen in the sky at 7PM. What a blessing! Leaving home in the dark and returning to home after dark leaves one depressed and longing for light and long vacation.

At Moorhen Marsh, March 25th, a group of 13 tundra swans were present. I watched from a vantage point that kept me hidden from the waterfowl, allowing me to see more by standing still than by walking around the ponds. Blue-winged teal and an American Widgeon were present. Two phoebes were calling, too. Still, I wonder what was going on with the beavers at the backside of the ponds. And while I could view most of the far pond, I'm curious what I missed there. I'll need to find some hide over on that side of the property that will allow me the opportunity to scrutinize that area for rails later this spring.

March - The Weather Rollercoaster Begins!

Spring is starting in fits and starts as usual. We had temperatures in the 60s over the weekend and now we are back to the 30s with snow spitting and flying in the air. Last weekend I saw tundra swans on the USA Pond along the Glen Richey Highway. If I had pointed them out to my travelling partner, she never would have seen them. How important it is to train the senses to perceive. Lots remains invisible and unheard to deaf mutes of the modern era. Spring Peepers, wood frogs, midges, a mourning cloak butterfly and even a Comma butterfly graced us with their presence these last few days. It's good to welcome back old friends. Perhaps we'll introduce them to some new people through teaching and sharing with neighbors and fellow employees.

An hour at the marsh

Earlier this summer, I began watching a marsh/pond area. The beavers and herons were quite entertaining, but the Virginia rails, sora rails, and common moorhens took me and other birders by surprise. Having documented their presence during Breeding Bird Atlas safe dates up through early June, I did not return to the area until this evening. We've decided to call it Moorhen Marsh, and not reveal its location outside of a small circle of friends.

It was still there, but I didn't recognize it at first. The cattails and rushes were well over six feet high. Bright green duckweed covered the water, and patches of mud had emerged as the water evaporated. I was not surprised as dozens of mallard ducks took wing as I climbed within view of the first section of the marsh. Hundreds of blackbirds - I assume redwinged blackbirds - did fly bys over and around the marsh and ponds. Chimney swifts twittered by, and high overhead, several night hawks were heard. Two months ago I could count on hearing spring peepers, bullfrogs, and greenfrogs. Tonight, no peepers peeped, only a couple green frogs called, and no bullfrogs were heard anywhere. Where once two dozen bird species could be heard and spring peepers would drown out the highway noise, a kind of quiet one experiences after a major event like a wedding or a vacation was present.

No rails or moorhens were heard. Still, activity near the marsh and the swamp by the river drew my attention. For an hour, I listened to the croaks of great blue herons as they came into roost and settled in for the night. While I can't be sure, I believe at least eight came in to roost in the dead trees and there could have been as many as twelve. An occassional green heron was also heard, but none were seen.

As night began, I watched a lone muskrat swim across open water towards a clump of cattails. As I scanned with binoculars, I noticed that other muskrats were already in the shallow eating contentedly. Even with my most stealthy sneaking about the ponds, the beaver saw me first and cracked his tail against the water, startling me and reminding me I am watched as much as I am the watcher. Two sizes of bats acrobatically patrolled the area, eating insects, but not enough of the mosquitoes to keep me from being bitten repeatedly. I do hate being bitten.

It was time well spent. Getting to know the marshes and ponds at this site later in the year reminded me of the many changes that occur in a marsh and a pond as the summer waxes and wanes. I thoroughly enjoyed getting reacquainted. I can't wait to see what this place reveals to me on my next visit.

RABIII

August 2nd Post

Looking into the future, this Blog will be my exploration of how this form of technology might be used for teaching and learning about science and the environment. As an experiment, I want to see what might be the strengths and limitations of the Blog.