Snapper Turtle Crossing

Off and on over the years, on a warm spring day, I get lucky and catch a sighting of the old snapper turtle(s) crossing from the bog over the road to the pond.

In 2010, a turtle crossed on May 7th.  (See blog post May 7, 2010)

In 2016, there were 2 turtles crossing the same day on March 10th.  (see blog post March 20, 2016)

This year, on April 13th, I was pulling in the driveway, and there was a snapper trucking up the yard, headed for the road and pond.

My husband came up and carried it over the road to safety.  Off to the pond it waddled.

We were curious if we could find where it had hibernated all winter. 

Here clearly is the hole, where it had laid and the path from which it emerged from the bog by the vernal pond.

So, from our observations, the turtles move in the spring anytime from March until May, waiting for a warm sunny day.

Robin's Second Brood

It was late May, when I first noticed the robin darting back and forth by the window to the holly tree. After watching more closely, I noticed a nest. 

It was a bit high to reach easily and I just made note of it.

Some weeks have passed and I see again, that the robin is still hanging around, 

now at the viburnum bush, just 20 feet from the first nest over the fence.

I peek through it's branches and discover, that indeed, there is another robin's nest.

I grab a ladder to get a better look, as it's only 5 feet off the ground this time. 

I catch the mother straining her neck to see what I'm doing, as she digs around for worms in the mulch nearby. 

 I pull the branch towards me and 

there, there is the baby. 

Just one, flattened deep into the nest, 

with just one tiny eye watching me. 

I wait a long while for the mother to return, 

and there she is, with a big wormy meal for the baby. She wrinkles up her head feathers, 

not pleased to see me still watching.  

I retreat, satisfied with some good shots to share.

Toad Spring

This spring, numerous toads have been seen by the pool, on the driveway, in the gardens and meadows. They have all been the Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus), as pictured here, with bulging eyes, a dry, ruddy complexion and covered in brown and golden bumps and warts. 

This toad is larger and lighter in color and likely a female. She found a crevice in our walkway, where she dug a hole and hides among tiny plants and seedlings, waiting for some food to fly by.

Another toad hides out during the day on the back patio near the pool. This one is much darker in complexion, smaller and probably a male. 

Unlike frogs, toads can spend more time on land, although, during mating season, they can be found by water sources. This is when they get into trouble and can find their way into a pool and drown. 

I'm reading a new book by Nancy Lawson, called The Humane Gardener, 

where she suggests using a Frog Log: A Critter Saving Escape Ramp, which provides an angled, easily used escape route. It can be bought online, it's easy to set up and can be used not only by frogs and toads, but also by baby birds, spiders, beetles, bees, snakes, etc. 

I bought 2 Frog logs and placed them next to the skimmers, upstream from the water flow. I haven't found any animals in the skimmers since. 

Here is a clear explanation about the differences between frogs and toads: http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/frogtoad.html

This site identifies the different frogs and toads of PA: http://www.paherps.com/herps/frogs-toads/

Nancy Lawson has a lovely and informative website: http://www.humanegardener.com/

Beware of Aggressive House Sparrows!

The Tree Swallows have been hunting insects in the meadow, swirling overhead and then off into the nesting box. Great news! They must have a nest!

But, wait, a House Sparrow followed it into the nesting box?

Did I see this correctly? What was going on? I dashed inside and did a quick search of Tree Swallows versus House Sparrow and this is what I found out:

House Sparrows are over 80,000,000 strong here in the U.S. and counting. Also known as English Sparrows, they were introduced from Great Britain 150 years ago and they are NOT a native bird. They are extremely aggressive and will corner Tree Swallows, Blue Birds, and other native birds, who they are competing with, following them into a nesting box and pecking them to death. Yikes!

This is the picture shown on the site listed below:

http://www.treeswallowprojects.com/spardam.html

Shocked and disturbed, I raced to the nesting box to investigate. I found 5 baby House Sparrow inside, which I left in place and they are thriving. I was relieved not to find a dead Tree Swallow.

What was going on in the rest of the nesting boxes? These are nesting boxes that had been erected specifically to help the Blue Bird population in the area!

The nesting box by the fence, historically, always a Blue Bird nesting box, had House Sparrows and 4 eggs. Out that nest came! The Blue Birds had been over wintering in this box all winter and had clearly been chased off.

In the upper meadow, 2 of the nesting boxes housed House Sparrow nests. Out they came. The middle nesting box have a Blue Bird family nesting and they were already being harassed by House Sparrows.

What to do? The site above offers some great suggestions, which I will pursue, including a Sparrow Spooker and Hironbec Pendulum.

Here is the site to access this information: http://www.hironbec.com/ENbicolorefiche.htm

Another outstanding site offers further suggestions on how to deal with this serious problem:
http://www.sialis.org/hosp.htm

Before acting, be sure to make a correct ID:

http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/Birds/BirdPages/HouseSparrow.jpg

Egg comparisons for making correct ID:

I will continue to monitor these nesting boxes and remove House Sparrow nests every 10-12 days, as recommended.

Eggs of Blue

Along the driveway, there were 2 small, broken, very blue eggs.

Why? Why along the driveway? 

Was the robbing bird using the hard surface to help break the eggs? 

Why not just use their pointy beak?

Whose eggs were these? 

They seemed smaller than a robins?

Which other birds lay blue eggs with no markings or spots and are smooth?

Using Peterson's Field Guide: Eastern Bird's Nest, this is what I found:

From small to large:
14 x 11 mm - blue-gray gnatcatcher -  pale - bluish, bluish white
18 x 13 mm - house finch - pale bluish green
20 x 16 mm - bluebird - pale blue, bluish white
22 x 16 mm - veery - pale blue, similar to robins
22 x 16 mm - hermit thrush - very pale blue
23 x 17 mm - gray catbird -  deep greenish blue
25 x 18 mm - wood thrush - pale blue
28 x 20 mm - robin - robin egg's blue
29 x 21 mm - common starling - pale bluish or greenish white

(http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/83/106583-004-4F68E248.jpg)

(http://www.sialis.org/images/eggscircle3.jpg)

Here is an online site for egg and nest identification:
http://thebirdersreport.com/egg-and-nest-identification

In measuring the egg, it is around 28 mm and with it's distinct blue, it's most likely a robin's egg.

Spring Discoveries

It is a blustery, damp, dreary, cold Spring day. It's hard to believe, that it's the end of April. Despite the cold, there are some interesting discoveries, that have been awaiting me in the garden.

First Discovery/Confirmation:
Look what was sparkling amongst the weeds:

Raspberry Dressing Lettuce!!

This is a keeper and something I will be sure to plant yearly!

(Check out the earlier entry on October 28th, 2015)

Second Discovery/Confirmation: 

- The zinnia bed covered in old zinnia stocks did well. Just a few weeds, but overall the soil is in place and in excellent shape. The left over seeds were enjoyed by the over-wintering birds, as well.

- The beds covered in black plastic are in great shape, although the soil was more compacted and reduced. In any case, the soil is like black chocolate cake: moist, crumbly and deliciously perfect for planting new spring plants. 

- The beds covered in weed barrier did not fare well. The barriers were not anchored well enough and simply blew away. Those beds are covered in weeds. Argh!  (See previous post on October 25, 2015)

Spring plantings are well underway. I've planted red, romaine and bibb lettuces and parsley plants and pea seeds and mounded starter potatoes. I threw in a tomato and some eggplant just for fun, but it's been too cool for them to make much progress. 

Snapper crossing!

Last Thursday afternoon, March 10th, 2 female snapper turtles journeyed from the lower boreal pond and creek, over the road, to the upper pond, where they will reside until the end of summer. It was in the 60's, sunny with a light breeze.

It's a difficult and dangerous trip, as they must cross over a busy road. 

That's where I come in! 

This is the first year in 10 years, that I have witnessed 2 traveling not only on the same day, but at the same time.

The first female followed almost the exact same path as last year, traveling

  up from the creek still covered in thick, wet, black mud. 

and onto my neighbors driveway and then over the road, where 

I stopped traffic, so she could cross safely. 

After crossing the road and safely on the other side, she allowed me to approach her closely without hissing. I could then appreciate her large muscular legs and long claws as she hurried along 

with an ungainly stride.

The second snapper came straight from the pond, through the leaves, vines and branches.

Slowly, she made her way, inching across the driveway and then lumbering up the hill.

As I collected sticks from the winter's winds and keeping my distance, I noticed she continued to choose the most difficult path. 

She walked into some brambles and became tangled in an old wire fence, that took me, 

and some pulling, while wearing thick protective gloves, to get her out.

 Finally, I just carried her the rest of the way, over the road, 

as she wiggled and snapped at me.

I'm so glad to have discovered them, 

to insure their safe travels over the road 

for another season!

For previous snapper turtle encounters, see blog entries: 

May 7, 2010: 

http://vondervogelweide.blogspot.com/2010/05/on-move.html

November 20, 2009: 

http://vondervogelweide.blogspot.com/search/label/snapper%20turtles

Spring buds

Buds, which are helpful in identifying plants and trees, come in many shapes and types, including: scaly, covered, hairy and naked, as this chart shows beautifully:

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud#/media/File:Plant_Buds_clasification.svg)

Spring is on the way and many buds are popping on this cool, foggy morning.

Magnolia: hairy, covered, terminal

Plum: covered and dew kissed

Red maple: scaly, rounded

Crabapple: scaly

Blueberry: scaly

unidentified: scaly and rounded