Note I said “phenology” in the title. The definition of phenology is:
The connection between the definition and what we strive for here at the Daily Bucket is that word “periodic” in the definition. Thus the Daily Bucket boiler-plate; the words “patterns” and “phenological” appearing therein:
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow.
So, see, this is a diary showing some of the phenological pattern(s) that happen at my little nature preserve, just about a mile away from my house, a place known locally as Dellinger’s Pond. To update any reader who may not be all that familiar with my reports from Dellinger’s Pond, here’s the entrance sign to the place:
My avatar, yeah, that’s me at the pond, photo-staged so I look like I’m a serious nature observer. And if you believe I actually am, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
To bring the past few phenological months at Dellinger’s into perspective, I put these reference photos into series. You can note the date/time stamps:
October/November
December:
I’ve only been able to get a few birds on the pond so far this year; the icy conditions are keeping them away.
Actually not at the pond, but on the way there:
I made a visit on Jan. 25; no birds on the pond, all ice (not very thick though, totally unsafe to try to walk on), but a pretty-pretty up in a tree:
Sphyrapicus ruber
Like many other woodpeckers, the Red-breasted Sapsucker hitches up and down tree trunks and along tree limbs or rail fences. They fly with an undulating pattern, alternating flapping and gliding. Unique to sapsuckers is the way in which they drill shallow holes in trees to facilitate the flow of sap, which they then lap up using specialized brush-tipped tongues. Both males and females spend most of their time near their wells, and guard them from other sapsuckers, bird species, and mammals. This aggressive defense is accompanied by head thrusting, wing flicking, and loud calls.
The Red-breasted Sapsucker can be found from sea level to 8,700 feet (2,900 meters) in elevation. They are especially common in coniferous forests of pine and hemlock, but also use old-growth and second-growth forests, orchards, and powerline rights-of-way. In the winter, they move to a more coastal habitat and use a wide variety of both deciduous and coniferous woodlands.
Red-breasted Sapsuckers eat sap, insects and other arthropods, fruit, and seeds. Their tongues are shorter than those of other woodpeckers, with brushy tips that help them lap up sap. They spend far less time drilling into wood than many other woodpeckers, and instead pick insects (especially ants and beetles) from crevices in the bark or from sapwells. They also fly out to catch insects in midair.
All About Birds
Whereas there wasn’t all that much from the pond itself to see, there’s the journey there and back again.
January 27, 2023. A final day out, the day before this publishes. Back to the pond, noting that a couple of days in this case didn’t make a lot of difference. Still, getting out and getting some exercise and fresh air is better than just sitting on my duff. Sky was overcast.
Two in the water (note open water to upper right of center, in pond photo), and five in the trees.
After visiting the pond I went on out across the valley for an extended bicycle ride, but I’m saving what I got (and one of ‘em is a real good one) for Dawn Chorus tomorrow.
Now it's Your Turn.
What have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.
Thank you.