Spring is arriving, albeit slowly this year. We’ve had a few more warm, sunny days as well as wide temperature swings. The trees are still bare, but soon they will be cloaked in spring green.
Medway Creek
Medway Creek runs through part of the Western University campus. We took advantage of the free weekend parking on campus to explore a trail that runs along the creek.
A few trees were beginning to bloom.
Our bird list had only 12 species, mostly heard or barely seen high in the trees. Only this European Starling posed for a photo.
We were delighted to find a few wildflowers emerging.
The leaves of Yellow Trout Lilies carpeted the ground in some areas. A few blossoms were starting to open.
Patches of Bloodroot were coming up through the carpet of dead leaves on the forest floor.
Early Meadow-Rue, a native woodland plant suitable for shade gardens was not yet in bloom.
There were the inevitable introduced species that have naturalized in greater numbers and become invasive in some areas.
The early blooms attracted a variety of pollinators.
Storybook Gardens
On another sunny day, we accompanied friends to see if Bald Eagles were on the nest they had constructed. From the woods overlooking Storybook Gardens, it was just possible to see the unoccupied nest in the distance.
Native plants were emerging through the leaf litter, not yet fully in bloom.
Besides wildflowers, Mourning Cloak butterflies were emerging in the warmth of the afternoon, ready to start mating. Because they overwinter in tree crevices or under tree bark as adults, these butterflies can look a little the worse for wear.
Cylindrical Click Beetles were also emerging. Some click beetles are destructive plant pests.
Our friends’ garden featured a variety of native plants and many visitors to their birdfeeders.
Correction
Thanks to a friend, a native wildflower expert, for noticing a mistake in our last post. Even though we remarked on the different appearances of the blue flowers we saw, we didn’t make the connection that we were looking at two different species! Here is her explanation of the photos we posted: “You have two photos of blue flowers under the name Scilla. I think the (right) photo is Scilla and the (left) one is Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa). Scillas always face down and Chionodoxas face up.” We keep learning.
Osprey Life
We are happy to report that our Osprey pair have settled into an effective domestic routine. The female remains steadfastly on the nest most of the time. Often, the male is perched on the low platform, remaining close in order to help protect the nest. We are now confident that the male is making regular deliveries of fish to the nest to feed the female. We were fortunate to capture one delivery on video. Once she has the fish, the female leaves and the male takes her place on the nest.
Here is the video.
Magnolias in Bloom!
We’ve seen magnolia trees in bloom all over London. After two warm days in a row, the buds on the two magnolia trees at Eldon House have started to open.
Celebrating Earl Scruggs and the Banjo
I will get back to my journey through the years of rock and roll music.
A friend said that he liked songs that included a banjo in their arrangements. I was suddenly reminded of several songs that included a banjo and that Earl Scruggs was often the banjo player.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (NGDB) blended folk, rock and country. Later they worked on albums with many Nashville stars.
Kate Mcgarrigle played the banjo on her husband’s The Swimming Song.
Fox on the Run is fun for its harmonies.
The next three songs are from recordings made with the NGDB in Nashville.
