Some variety to mark the last week of April, 2017:

These Gaultheria procumbens berries are a nice mouth freshener when tramping through the woods.

Nice photo of shelf fungus of some sort…

Red Maple blossoms that we’ll follow:

Male willow catkin, clearly showing the Anthers.

Recyling bark from Alces alces …

This Vanessa atalanta was seen moving among the dry leaves in a forest opening near Pakesley on a warm April 26.  It is the first time that I’ve seen one so early in the year.  After flitting around a bit another Red Admiral came by and the two disappeared into the forest.

Acer rubrum  compared to  Acer saccharum:

Pileated Woodpecker action on Harris Lake Road:

 

Equisetum arvense prior to the spore cone opening…

Photographed the same day as above but in a warmer spot, as the spore cone starts to open….

Interrupted ferns huddled in a family meeting….  These are NOT the “fiddleheads” that we eat.  Edible fiddleheads are the Ostrich Fern.  Make sure you know what you’re collecting.  Bracken ferns can be dangerous.

Wild cherry twig, before the emergence of the blossom head…

Female catkin and “cone” of willow.  Note the shape of the pistils in the catkin.

 

This hazelnut flower has been fertilized, the stigmata have gone and the male catkin has dropped its load of pollen.  A cluster of nuts will probably form there and be ready for harvesting in 100 days.

I am having some difficulty ID ing this hawk.   If you know it please leave a comment or email me with a link.  brtthome at gmail.com  Many thanks.

Vernal pool.  Source of lots of spring activity.

See https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/vernal-pool-obligate-species/

We are having an abnormal amount of rain now.  The peeping froggies will be serenading us over the next few weeks.