Scarlet Tanager
Even the branches of this willow could not block the glow from the fiery feathers of a male Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea). I photographed this bird yesterday as it was staying near eye-level, though it was wary of me and preferred to remain “hidden” like this from afar. These canopy dwellers are so vibrant that even the sharpest lens perfectly locked on and focused always make them look just slightly blurry. They are a flame in the forest. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreIced Maple
These maple tree buds had a good coating of freezing rain covering them up in ice, too – I cannot imagine this is good for the trees or the wildlife that depends on them! But it was probably not as bad as the prolonged sub-freezing temperatures of the last couple of days… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreCrocus Flowers
It is only mid-March but the crocus have come to join us! We are about to hit spring and the first signs continue to spring up everywhere we look. These lovely crocus flowers were opening up this morning to feel some sun on another beautiful and unseasonably warm day. The first bees are in the air, too!
Read MoreGoodbye Winter
This sunset from earlier in the week felt like a mix of the winter and spring seasons. As our calendars have turned to March we have entered meteorological spring. As the sun rises higher and higher and these sunsets get later and later our buds and blooms starting to pop. Next week will feature some very warm conditions for early March with birds heading north and flowers emerging from the earth. Get outdoors this weekend to enjoy the early signs of spring!
Read MoreDaffodil Buds
I snapped this photo of daffodils emerging in the leaf litter in Connecticut on February 25 as I have seen them coming up in several areas at multiple locations. I recalled that I took a similar photo last year and wondered when, knowing this season’s warmth and last February’s historic cold likely meant it was a couple weeks later. Surprisingly it was a full month later on March 25! If the date wasn’t enough of a shock there was also still snow surrounding them then which is very late indeed for Connecticut. We had a taste of winter recently along with a couple of strong...
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