nuts, thistles, turtles and Turkey Vulture

Hickory nuts falling all over the place and Black Walnut nuts have appeared as well (now if I could only figure out how to get the meat out of these things). The big thistle is in full bloom and I have discovered several other smaller plants scattered here and there in woodland areas that were cleared out by Sandy. Same for the Wood Sage or Germander which seems to be more widespread after Sandy than before.

Several Box Turtles have appeared eating a brown-topped, yellowish gilled mushroom that we call Fetid Russula (not sure if this is the correct ID but this common mushroom has a rather unpleasant almondy smell (so it may be Almond-smelling Russula not Fetid Russula). Although the smell is not unpleasant I don't think this is an edible mushroom -- except to turtles.

A Turkey Vulture wheeling overhead yesterday aroused the ire of the local crows but soon soared off. This morning's birds were similar to those of the past few days -- Northern Waterthrushes, Common Yellowthroats, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Downy Woodpecker and Flicker; also at least two Spotted Sandpipers on the pond and a continuing parade of Royal Terns on the creek

Eric Salzman