Next Generation

This mother-doe  and her week-old fawn were out grazing in front of the house in the late afternoon. You will note the protection around the fruit trees.

Machines of Disturbance

The cardinal chirps

The leaves rustle in the wind

Waaaaaaah! roars the mower.

Ideal Cottontail Habitat

I see this eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) almost every day in the early evening at the edge of the woods on the southwest corner of the property.

 
I was able to observe it closely on this occasion and discovered why it likes this particular location. The combination of shade, "lawn"... rich in broadleaf plantain, and a nearby large brush pile (cover) make for an ideal homeland. If you look closely at the photo, you will see it chewing away on a leaf of plantain.

It is quite relaxing to sit in the evening and watch it meander and browse, always alert for any dangerous intruders.

brushpile

plantain

Tiger Beetle

I noticed this beautifully luminescent six-spotted green tiger beetle (Cicindela lepida) on the picnic table.

The Audobon guide says, "The adult flies along forest paths, alights, and turns to face any intruders, as though judging when to fly again.". I observed this one exhibiting this precise behavior.