Winged Spring Thing

It appeared to be the invasion of the big mosquito's over the last week or so.  They were everywhere.  In the lawn, in the woods.  Did not matter morning or evening the big guys (gals) were there.  Funny mating position, they hooked up tail to tail and would fly that way, land that way or just, well, stayed that way till they were done.  Like most insects after mating they had accomplished their life's goal and they would soon spin out and die becoming good food for the local birds. So their part of the circle of life would continue even in death.  Funny how nature is that way.  You must die to live.  Everything has its life and then in dying you live.  Amazing! 


 




So curiosity got me thinking about just what these big mosquitoes were called.  My wife told me they were called Mosquito Hawks.  I went to the http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740 and sure enough that seems to be one of the names of this insect.  Score one for my NBW (Non Birding Wife)


Now if you know this big guy (gal) by a different name just send it along in comments below.


Bear in mind that I am, at best, an amateur naturalist who tries to get my info correct.  I like to poke around in the woods to see what I can find and above all I love birds and birding. I then love to share this with you.  So if my info needs correcting just share it below. 

"Mosquito Hawk" is a Crane Fly - Tipula oleracea - 

Winter is for the birds

Seriously, it has been for the birds.  I don't have any data other than what it seems like to me.  You may feel the same way or you might not. But things this winter, as far as birds and birding goes, has been kinda slow.  There are the few "sure things" at the feeders or on the lawns & in the field.  These guys are fairly predictable, Chickadee, Tits, American Gold Finches among others.  But I must have been looking the other way when the birds flew south as I have not see many.  But in "slow" & "predictable" time it is enough just to spend a quiet walk or hike & enjoy nature as it is.  Even if it is slow & predictable.

Cardinal Invasion

Through out this winter I have had two pairs of Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) living nearby and frequenting my feeders and back deck everyday.  A few minutes after coming in last evening my wife pointed to the feeders and said "look at them all!"  Out by a tulip poplar were -to my best count- 14 to 16 Cardinals.  The feeders still had plenty of seed in them and every spot at the feeders was occupied by a Cardinal.  The others were sitting nearby on branches as though they were waiting for their turn at the feeders.  I have never seen so many in my yard at one time and it has been years since I have seen that many so close together period!  It was a sight to watch.  I was so caught up in the mob scene I did not think to grab my camera (found out later the batteries were dead anyway) or my cell phone to get a picture of the birds.  For those of you who know me, that sort of bright thinking will come as no surprise to you.  For those who are coming to know me, time will help you understand.  But memories live on in our hearts and minds and they can not be replaced by a digital picture, at least that is what I have found myself saying since last evening.

A peculiar thing has played itself out in our yard over this winter as well.  We have always counted on keeping more seed available than what we think we will need due to the yard being inundated with Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata).  This year -Nada- not one.  I have not seen one in the yard, fly by over head, land in our neighbors yards, no where have I seen a Blue Jay.  A good friend of mine who lives a few miles north of me has told me he has seen only 1 or 2 this winter.  I haven't been able to figure this out yet.  Not a one.  Maybe one of you will have some thoughts on this.  In the mean time, my camera is at the ready if one does come anywhere nearby, new batteries and all.