Big Year Week 15

April 16-22

Moths can be really tough to identify, which I why I usually need help with them.  Such is the case with this individual. This is most likely Morrison's Sallow (Eupsilia morrisoni), which is another moth that overwinters as an adult.  I found this one attracted to the grow lights that I was using for my vegetable seedlings.

Morrison's Sallow (Eupsilia morrisoni)

"Oh dear, Canada, Canada, Canada" and "Sweet, sweet, Peabody, Peabody, Peabody" are two of the several mnemonics that are used to describe the song of this species:  the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).  This time of year, White-throats are stopping by for a short time while on their way to their breeding grounds in the extreme northern United States and Canada.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Our second native spring ephemeral wildflower is the Yellow-trout Lily (Erythronium americanum).  These plants are indigenous to our property, and they provide clues at to what the property would have been like prior to being developed.  It's difficult to tell from this picture, but the mature, flower producing plants have two basal leaves whereas the immature, non-flower producing plants have but one basal leaf. 

Yellow-Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

A common lawn weed, particularly in damp, disturbed areas is Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta).  A member of the mustard family, Hairy Bittercress is native to Europe and Asia, but it has now become established in most of the United States.  It is an edible plant that is popular with foragers, and is said to have a peppery, bitter flavor.

Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)

This little woodland wildflower is one that I rescued a couple of years ago from a construction site that was about to be bulldozed.  Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) is native wildflower that is a member of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family.  

Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

The final plant of the week is another of the native spring wildflowers:  Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. acuta).  The picture is poor, but if you look closely, at the bottom left of the photo, you will see the three-lobed leaves, from which the plant takes its name as the lobes are supposed to resemble the human liver.  Because of this, Hepatica was once thought to be a cure for certain liver ailments.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. acuta)

Week 15 running totals:

Birds:  23

Mammals:  4

Insects:  8

Vascular Plants: 10