What's Your Nature?
Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!
Clear Day on the Kip Trail
I often walk my dog on the Kip Trail, and when we went out onto the lookout platform today I was impressed by the vibrant color of the sky and stillness of the water below. There is a great blue heron that likes to hang out in the reeds on the far left side of the pond, and, sure enough - one lifted off and as we approached the bird blind. It's hard to be quiet when you bring the dog along!
Groundhog Pup on Avenue of the Elms
Starting my walk on the Avenue of the Elms, I stumbled upon a groundhog pup. Born in mid-April, groundhog pups stay close to the mother’s burrow for two to three months before finding a new home. Some pups, though, will stay around for up to a year, leaving only when the mother prepares for a new litter.
Forest tent caterpillars!
So, in spite of how much I love the natural world, I'm really sick and tired of watching these forest tent caterpillars defoliate trees. On the SLU campus this summer they are abundant, and appear to be feeding on oak, ash, and maple species in particular. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Let the socially-transmitted virus that knocks them back arrive and thrive!
Pileated Woodpecker Eating Some Grub
This little one was so engrossed in dinner that I was able to get within six feet of the dining spot.
What's Good for Your Lawn
The Memorial Day long weekend is often a time to put in the garden, spruce up the yard, and of course, mow the lawn. After the snow from our prolonged winter melted away, many homeowners were disappointed at the condition of their lawn. Areas of dead grass are sometimes, but by no means always, due to heavy feeding by last fall’s grub crop. Grubs, of course, are beetle babies. Not like Ringo Junior, but the larval stage of European and rose chafers, and Japanese, Asiatic-garden, and Oriental beetles.
More flowers and some dogs near Harper Falls
Took a quick morning jaunt at Harper's falls to see what is blooming. Nice hike, nice day.
Donnervillle State Forest "hike"
White Trillium are quite spectacular this year! Usually by the time they start turning pink they are pretty beat.
Best Buds: How Spring Plants Survived Winter
While our springtime in the North Country has been a bit more unpredictable than usual, there’s still the usual spring trend: warmer weather and sunny skies! We’re not the only ones starting to venture out- animals are waking up from hibernation, and we’re starting to see signs of new growth in all our favorite flowers.
Flowers, dog snout
Another gorgeous day in the NoCo and I'm trying, somewhat irregularly, to keep track of the onset of wildflowers. Didn't have much time today, but saw foam flower and I *think* wild strawberry. Hazards of photography with a lab: ki might stick a nose in the photo - gotta be quick!
St. Lawrence Land Trust Annual Bird Walk
Join the St. Lawrence Land Trust and Tom Langen on a bird walk at Upper & Lower Lakes State Wildlife Management Area (ULL SWMA) near Canton, NY on Saturday May 19. The walk will be led by Tom Langen, a Clarkson University Biology Professor and St. Lawrence Land Trust Board President.