-
Lizards
New York State has three native species of lizard: Northern Fence, Five-lined Skink, and Coal Skink. And one introduced species: the Italian Fence Lizard (Podarcis sicula). P. sicula evidently spread out from a release in Hempstead in 1967. The first time I ever became aware of them was when a photo of a Kestrel taking…
-
In Da Bronx
Franklinia in bloom. What a scrumptious flower! And the bees agree. (All of today’s trees are descendants from seeds collected by William Bartram in the 1760s. The plant is unknown in the wild.) On the mammal front, Cottontail and Chipmunk and Gray Squirrel.In addition to the frog, a Garter Snake crossed our path, and a…
-
Two Butterflies
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades).Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos); this one was particularly attached to this pebble.
-
Forms
The immature cones of Arborvitae (Thuja).An unknown mushroom, past its prime.Fruit of Ascelepias physcocarpa/Gomphocarpus physocarpus, Balloon Plant Milkweed, also known as Family Jewels and, wait for it, Hairy Balls.Bonus paper wasps in that Arborvitae. Genus: Polistes.
-
Hedgehog Galls, Ladybug
According to my own personal memory device, this is the third year I’ve noted these hedgehog galls on this White Oak (Quercus alba) in Green-Wood. This year there is a bumper crop of them.A Multicolored Asian Ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) on the galls.
-
Nyssa
Black Tupelo/Blackgum/Bee Gum/Sourgum (Nyssa sylvatica) beginning to turn. Happy September!
-
Revisiting a Gentle Giant
Back in May we stumbled upon this magnificent American Elm yard tree in Sunset Park. Yes, it’s growing from the yard, not the sidewalk. It pretty much is the yard of this three-story row house. I walked by the other day. Still there, still too big to fit into my camera.
-
Elevated Meadow
Leaning towers of Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus).Asclepias tuberosa going to seed. Both on the High Line.
-
Diggers
Digger wasps (Scolia dubia) hide their lights under their dark blue-black wings. “Blue-winged Wasp” is another common name for them.A bunch of these were looping over a strip of dirt on the edge of First Avenue at 41st, rather industrial ground for natural history, except for the feral cats and Paulownia and Ailanthus trees. But…
-
Morning’s Heronry
Just before Bush Terminal Park opened yesterday morning, we had a trifecta of herons. There were three Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) the adult above, and two juveniles.One of the youngsters stuck around as parent and sibling (?) flew off “kwoking” to this Cottonwood:This tree also hosted a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) — barely…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Backyard and Beyond 