more from the deck

The cicada pictured below was discovered on our deck yesterday and it has been identified with moderate assurance as Neotibicen lyricen lyricen, the Lyric or Swamp Lyric Cicada. This is the cicada that sings all day -- loudest in the evening -- and has a distinct crescendo-decrescendo in its song. Since they are all around, it is remarkable how rarely we get to see one! Note the brownish markings on the black.

Even more unlikely was the appearance in front of the deck of a Groundhog or Woodchuck that came loping out of the woods right in front of the deck. It stopped long enough to give us an extended once-over and then turned 45 degrees to gambol down the path towards the pond and marsh. Marmota monax is not a rare animal here on the East End since it colonized this part of the world a number of years ago. But it appears mostly north of here (often on the edge of the highway) and this is only the second one that I have ever seen down here.

Bird activity in the past couple of days has included Hairy Woodpecker, several Black-and-white Warblers, American Redstart and White-breasted Nuthatch along with the flocks of Tufted Titmice and Black-capped Chickadees. In some ways, the most interesting bird -- not flocking with the others -- was a Warbling Vireo. Once common, then rare, now making a comeback, Warbling Vireo is always a pleasure to see if you can pick it out. It is famous as the bird that can be identified by noting that iit has no identifying features. But this is a slight exaggeration; it is somewhat similar to but a little smaller than a Red-eyed Vireo with a horizontal perch, faint eye-line, rounded head, smallish bill and an even coloration from the top of its head to the back. The main confusion species is the much sought-after Philadelphia Vireo which is more yellowish underneath and has darker lores.

Eric Salzman