The Daily Bucket is a place to record your observations of the natural world. Let us know what you've seen today (or yesterday) be it fish, fowl, or foliage. And let us know where, at least approximately
Beech Mountain, North Carolina. August 3, 2012
In a quasi reversal of Jim's diary from yesterday this Floridian is posting from 5000 feet up in the mountains of western North Carolina. I managed to cancel class today and eke out a 5 day vacation.
Weather - high about 80, cloudy with some thunder but no rain yet. Breezy and moderate humidity. Very pleasant.
Numerous white tail deer sightings including several fawns that are just starting to lose their spots. American goldfinch, juncos, red-breasted(?) nuthatch (heard only), presumed black-capped chickadee (both eastern chickadees occur here). Lots of some kind of dark Swallowtail as well as Mourning Cloaks. Lots of grasshoppers on the roads but no calling insects so far.
Forest is reminiscent of Ontario where I grew up but without the mosquitoes!
Over the next three days I'll have more to report and some pictures.
Widespread mortality of Eastern Hemlock is very apparent just walking around our 'neighborhood'.
That's my observations from my first 3 hours on Beech Mountain. What's going on elsewhere.