Barred Owl roosting over the garden
February 7, 2008
©Mathew Pokoik
Yesterday I had a lucky sighting of a Barred Owl sitting in a birch tree over-looking the pond and garden. It allowed me to get within 10 ft to record it for posterity (I moved very slowly). The owl sat in this tree for most of the day, flying off some time around dusk. This is the second Barred owl I’ve seen recently. The other one was much larger, it was sitting in another Birch tree, this time in the upper field. I walked under it and didn’t see it till I walked onwards - turned around and looked at the view behind me - so well did it blend in with the bark of the tree in this snowy white landscape. It was hunting in the middle of the day. It was quite amazing to watch. Every 30 seconds or so its head would swivel around 180 degrees, with no lower body movement at all. Then instantly it would again swivel right-side-front, scanning the field for mice in a 360 degree angle of sight.
Two storms in a week
December 18, 2007
With two big storms in a week we now have a foot and a half snow base on the ground. For the first time in a few years we might be in for a real Catskill Mountain winter. Here are two photos from the garden the day after the nor’easter.
©Mathew Pokoik
©Mathew Pokoik
First Hard Frost of the Season
October 29, 2007
The first hard frost of the season arrived early this morning here in Mt Tremper. I woke up to find the garden awash in a greenish white gown. Glancing out the window a red tailed hawk landed on a tree limb nearby, giving me a rare close-up look at this bird. Good signs for this first cold weather event of the season.
Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar
September 9, 2007
I just noticed this very strange caterpillar feeding on the American Bittersweet vine that’s taking over growing on our front porch. It looks to me like the Shih Tzu of the caterpillar world.
©Mathew Pokoik
©Mathew Pokoik
From the Garden
September 6, 2007
Here are a few new photos of a bugs world from the garden:
Large Maple Spanworm (Prochoerodes transversata) feeding on a Black Currant Shrub
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum)
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum)
