My Little Friend

Black-capped Chickadee - hand feeding in the woods

It was a beautiful spring day ~ We headed out for a hike, but not without having our pockets filled with lots of sunflower seeds.  Our little feathered friends follow us everywhere!!  They are so gentle and trusting.  It is priceless watching them close up and makes us appreciate and fall in love with nature even more!

After the Storm

Winter sunset in our backyard

Ribbit....Ribbit

The Eastern American Toad is also known as a "hop toad" because they move around in short hops, instead of long leaps.  He was just coming out of his burrow which was buried under the damp moss and twigs deep in the forest.  He is getting ready for his night on the town.

 

He was a charming little character,

not to mention curious....

Toads are among the last amphibians to hibernate each fall.  They may be seen into late November.

Hello Johnny

This was Johnny's favorite tree to climb

Now, Johnny sits and reminisces about the good 'ole days

Common Loon

Common Loons can be seen along the coastlines of rivers and lakes across North America.  Although very sensitive to human disturbance, we were lucky enough to capture this handsome male close by.  He was focused on meeting up with the female and her baby which we spotted out further in the lake.  They have a very distinctive call that echos across the wilderness and it is music to our ears every time we hear them.

Old Man's Beard

This hanging shrub lichen is also commonly known as ''old man's beard''.  It is a species of Usnea and it grows world-wide.  It resembles coarse hair and is a combination of algae and fungus and grows on branches of trees.

Did you know:

There are health benefits of Usnea
(Old Man's Beard):

• It has antibiotic properties which is effective against the tuberculosis bacteria
• Usnea has activity against fungi and is an anti-inflammatory
• It is an immune system enhancer
• It can be used the same way as Echinacea and is very good in treating respiratory infections (pnuemonia and bronchitis)
• Usnea can be used as a wound dressing in the wilderness by compressing it and applying it to the wound

Dragonfly Metamorphosis

Dragonfly Metamorphosis!
This is a magnificant dragonfly that has just emerged from nymph stage!!
(some information noted below)
Once the nymph is fully grown, and the weather is right, it will complete the metamorphosis into a dragonfly by crawling out of the water up the stem of a plant (In our case, on the log railing of our cabin deck). The nymph will shed its skin onto the stem of the plant and will then be a young dragonfly. The skin that the nymph left behind is called the exuvia and you can find the exuvia still stuck to the stem for a long time after the dragonfly has left it.