Looking for Acorns

There isn't much food in the woods this time of year. The deer are used to finding acorns under the Oaks, but last fall the trees didn't produce.

Expect that the deer will move on to a high meadow further up the mountain in search of food.

The Old Ash Tree

The hole is 5 inches in diameter; wood chips circle the base.
It appears that a woodpecker is building a nest hole
in this old ash tree.

Update: 2014: This year the old ash tree doesn't have any leaves..it is totally dead.  

First Green

The snow melted in the Hills this week..exposing last fall's leaves and bright green moss in the brook.

Winter of 2011-12: Kinder to the Deer

This doe was so much fitter after our  mild winter, compared to the winter of 2010-11
Problem with the warm winter is that the ticks didn't die out. Each time I walked into the woods to check the
camera I came home with a tick.

Daylight Savings Time March 2012

Time to bring in the Bird Feeders. You will have to take my word for it, but these really  are bear tracks.

Bear Tracks in snow

If you enlarge the photo you can see the leaves under the snow.  We had over 12 inches of new snow a week ago, followed by some very warm weather.
This  bear must have come out in the last 5 days, as the sun warmed the southern exposures of the rocky, wooded hillsides.

In this spot there was a pile of rocks, with a couple of young hemlock trees growing out of the top. The bear walked in a tight circle all around the pile of rocks, then wandered back  in the direction he had come...

I'm glad I didn't run into him..but wish my trail camera had been up and running.

Woodpecker Advice

Woodpecker at the Birdfeeder

"First, land on the rail
Then  tip back on your tail.
Thrust both feet forward
And grasp the lip of the feeder.
Otherwise you'll bump your head every time."


A great (March) wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.
Catherine the Great

Wordless Saturday Morning in early March

The Shed and Coyote Tracks

March Storm

March 3, 2012: And I thought the ice would melt soon....
There were tracks of two large "coyotes" crossing the yard this morning.