a feisty mite

A very hot humid morning did not deter Mme. Colubris (a.k.a. Mrs. Ruby-throat) from returning to her nest tree, presumably to look for her offspring (two weeks now after they fledged). I didn't see any junior hummers in the vicinity but mama was on high alert and managed to chase away a giant flycatcher (probably just a Phoebe but it looked huge and was certainly intimidated by the feisty hummer). She then took on a whole troupe of giant chickadees -- okay, just Black-capped Chickadees but again they looked very big compared to her diminutive dimensions -- by darting at one bird after another and threatening to poke their eyes out with her needle-like beak and far superior flying technique. The Chickadees got the message and moved out in a hurry!

The only other observation of note was a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron that flew up from the pond edge and landed on a dead branch right over my head before realizing that this was a far-too-close encounter and taking off. This was likely one of the three birds -- one adult and two young ones -- that I saw yesterday.

One more note. The stand of goldenrod that is now in full bloom -- mentioned in a recent post -- is not Solidago rugosa (Rough-stemmed Goldenrod) for the simple reason that it doesn't have a rough stem. It has a smooth stem that is ridged (like certain mints), small leaflets at the joints of the larger leaves which are ovate and slightly serrated; it also has a elm-like inflorescence that flares outward rather dramatically.. This is undoubtedly Solidago juncea or Early Goldenrod, a name that fits as it is certainly the earliest goldenrod to flower around here. As I've mentioned before, the goldenrods are among are most striking wildflowers but there is a prejudice against them due to the mistaken idea that they cause hay-fever. Hay-fever at this time of year is caused by wind-blown pollen from the almost invisible flowers of Ragweed which blooms at the same time; Goldenrod is insect pollinated which is why it is so colorful. So  let's celebrate one of our most beautiful wild flowers without worrying about sneezing!

Eric Salzman