an accipter and a lot of flowers

The accipter that came streaking across the head of the marsh was just about the right size for a Sharp-shinned Hawk but when it landed in a bare tree I could see that it was a handsome adult with a red-streaked breast, capped look and a pale nape -- most probably a Cooper's Hawk male. The males, as with most raptors, are a good size smaller than the females so that the Cooper's Hawk male is just a bit bigger than a Sharp-shinned female.

I found a few Clematis flowers blooming from a previously unnoticed bit of vine. This is, of course, the time of year for the outbreak of that prolific four-petalled flowering vine that covers whole patches of the wayside (but this is the first time that I've found on the property). Also blooming right now throughout the open hurricane-struck woods is one of the purple/pink smartweeds. Two rather odd climbing vines are the parasitic Dodder (with orange stems and waxy white flowers) and something that I have identified as Climbing False Buckwheat (with greenish winged flowers and fruits).

The Seaside Goldenrod is coming into full bloom, creating a striking show of yellow down by the wetlands. As I have mentioned on other occasions, there is no connection between any of the goldenrods and hayfever. Ragweed, an unobtrusive greenish plant, starts pollinating at the same time that the goldenrods burst into golden visibility thereby creating this false association. Ragweed pollen is windblown and is therefore pervasive in the atmosphere at this time of year (ah-choo!). Goldenrod is insect pollinated as its attractive colors should tell us.

Eric Salzman