The Meadow's Edge

Migrant Birds

themeadowsedge — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:16:52 +0000

Birds of a feather: the Mockingbird and the Yellow-Shafted Flicker migrate to warmer climates each fall.

Migration is an annual fall event for many species of birds. Hummingbirds are among the first to leave as summer turns to fall. Several species of ducks and other waterfowl often head toward Cape Cod and other coastal areas before finally departing. Among the birds from the central Massachusetts area that migrate each fall are:

Bald Eagle – Southeastern States

Bluebird – Southern States

Brown Thrasher – Southern States

Catbird – Southern States

Cedar Waxwing – partial migration; may stay overwinter but move in flocks

Chimney Swift – South America

Cowbird – Southern States

Duck, Wood – Southern States

Duck, Black – Southern States

Duck, Mallard – Southern States, Mexico, Central America

Flicker, Yellow-Shafted – Southern States

Goose, Canada – may be non-migratory in some areas

Grackle – Southern States

Hawk, Sparrow (Kestrel) – Southern States, Central America

Hawk, Broadwing – Central America, South America

Heron, Great Blue - Southern States, Central America, South America

Hummingbird, Ruby-Throated – Southern States, Mexico, Central America,

Indigo Bunting – Mexico, Central America, South America

Kingfisher – Southern States, Central America, South America

Kingbird – Central America, South America

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned – Southern States, Mexico South America

Killdeer – Southern States, Mexico, Central America

Loon – Gulf Coast, Southern states, Mexico

Mockingbird – a partial migrator; some individuals overwinter in our neighborhood

Nighthawk – South America

Oriole, Northern and Orchard - Mexico, Central America, South America

Phoebe, Eastern – Southern States, Mexico

Red-winged Blackbird – Southern States, Mexico, Central America

Redstart – Mexico, Central America, South America

Robin – Some migrate to Southern States and Central America; others remain

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak – Mexico, Central America, South America

Scarlet Tanager – Central America, South America

Sparrow, Chipping – Southern States, Central America, Mexico

Sparrow, Field – Southern States, Gulf of Mexico

Sparrow, Fox – Southern States

Sparrow, Song – Southern States

Sparrow, White-Throated – Southern States, Mexico

Sparrow, White-Crowned – Southern States, Mexico

Starling – can be migrator or non-migrator; some will go to southern states

Swallow, Tree – Mexico, Central America

Swallow, Barn – Central America

Towhee – Southern States, South America

Turkey Vulture – Southern States, Mexico, Central America

Veery -South America

Warblers – Central America, South America

Woodcock – Southern States

Wood Pewee – Costa Rica, Northwest South America

Wood Thrush -Mexico to Panama, with some in Texas and Southern Florida

Wren – Southern States, Mexico

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker – Mexico, Central America

Yellow-Throat – Southern States, Central America

Seckel Pear

themeadowsedge — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:36:25 +0000

The Seckel Pear, or "Sugar Pear."

The Seckel Pear is small but very sweet. It makes sense that they are often referred to as “sugar pears.” Most of the time people eat them fresh (Seckels make great lunch box treats) but some prefer to mix slices poached in wine with a blue cheese and walnut salad, roast them in honey, or pickle or spice them. Ours are destined for pear butter. Like most pears, Seckels will be very firm when first picked, but they ripen well in a cool dark place.

The Seckel Pear was developed around 1800. The skin has a dull green-brown cast and may show reddish highlights. It is high in sugar and has a slightly grainy texture. The Seckel is an ideal pear for the home orchard because it is hardy and self-fertilizing. I picked these Seckel pears on a neighbor’s property. The trees were planted in the 1960’s and later neglected. Without thinning or pruning, the trees became very tall and the resulting fruit grew on branches that were simply “out of reach.” I used three sections of an aluminum snow rake handle with a small four-tined garden cultivator tool inserted in one end. Extending the pole as far above my head as possible, I was able to reach some of the now “wild” pears. This is not the most gentle of ways to pick pears, but otherwise the pears would ripen on the tree, become mealy, and fall to the ground. The deer, raccoon, squirrel, wild turkey and other animals that frequent the overgrown area will get the rest.

New England Aster

themeadowsedge — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:58:24 +0000

The purple New England Aster is a familiar September sight.

The New England Aster (Symphotrichum novae-angliae) is often dug up from the wild and planted in gardens. It grows naturally in fields and woodland thickets, along roadsides, or wherever there are low moist spots. Look for stems that are hairy and sharp-pointed leaves. The leaves appear to clasp the stem at their base. The petal like rays are purple. The green bracts just under the flower heads curve downward.

September Bounty

themeadowsedge — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:43:08 +0000

The flower tops of Queen Anne's Lace form a "bird's nest" in the fall.

September is traditionally a month of harvest. It brings the look and feel of autumn as summer slips away. Listen for the night sounds of tree frogs and crickets. Fall bird migration begins, with Hummingbirds, Broadwing Hawks, Yellow-shafted Flickers, and Geese leading the way. Watch for Red Admiral butterflies. Grapes ripen along stone walls and woodland edges. Peaches droop in orchards. Deer stay closer the woods. Bears eat nuts and berries. Redwing blackbirds prepare to migrate. Muskrats build winter homes. The praying mantis deposits a frothy egg mass on twigs and rocks. Wild carrot (Queen Anne’s Lace) forms a “bird nest” growth at tip. Apples ripen in orchards. Deer, fox, ruffed grouse, and raccoons eat apples in orchards. Insect larvae feed on the apples. Yellow jackets are especially fond of the decaying fruit. Hitch-hiker seeds – beggar ticks, burdock, and tick trefoils – are picked up on pants and socks. Field and woodland Asters are numerous. Wooly bear caterpillars seek shelter. Thistle heads are now silvery. Look for mushrooms following a rain. Red Maple leaves turn crimson. Pods of Milkweed crack open. The dark purple-black berries of Pokeberry hang along country roads. The blue flowers of the Chicory bloom along sunny streets. Two species of butterflies that migrate south are the Monarch and the Painted Lady. The first frost of the year may occur this month. Fall leaf colors begin showing. Green Darner dragonflies and Eastern Pondhawk dragonflies dazzle with their speed.

Jerusalem Artichoke

themeadowsedge — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:19:46 +0000

The Jerusalem Artichoke has edible tubers.

A fitting way to say goodbye to August is to acknowledge that the yellow flowers of the Jersualem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) have bloomed a full two weeks early this year. We do not dig the gnarled, purplish tubers of these plants and cook them, although Native Americans did, and cultivated them, too. The tubers are potato-like in texture and may be eaten in the fall when they are ripe. Jerusalem Artichoke grows wild in rich damp thickets and fields. Many people assume that the Jersualem Artichoke is some kind of sunflower. It has no relation with Jerusalem or artichokes.

High-Bush Cranberries

themeadowsedge — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:59:09 +0000

The High-Bush Cranberry (Viburnum opulus) is not the same plant that grows in boggy beds on Cape Cod. This tall shrub can grow to 12 feet in height and has smooth branches with opposite leaves that are three-lobed. If you look closely at the leaf you will see that the bottom third of each one has no teeth on the edges. The leaf stalks are long and reddish and grooved. The white flowers of the High-Bush Cranbberry bloom in June. The red fruit ripens in August. It is edible but sour. Inside each berry is a smooth flat stone. You can find this shrub growing in swampy woods and moist low spots.

Dryad’s Saddle

themeadowsedge — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:25:15 +0000

The Dryad's Saddle mushroom grows on living and dead hardwood.

Dryad’s Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is a mushroom with a flattened cap. The cap can grow to 12 inches across. Mature specimens have a yellow-brown cap with dark, overrlapping scales. Younger specimens are nearly white and are softer. The underside has a whitish-yellow pore surface. The cap grows from a thick and stubby stalk attached to a tree stump, especially elm stree stumps. Older specimens are inedible – too leathery and bitter for most tastes, but the younger softer stages can be cooked, according to some books. I have not tried one. Other common names for this mushroom include “Pheasant Back” and “Hawk’s Wing.” The patterns od the overrlapping scales resemble feathers. The Dryads were small creatures in Greek mythology.

Early Apples

themeadowsedge — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:38:34 +0000

A sure sign of the waning summer

Already the early apple species are reddening up, as shown by the specimens in the photo. Here a branch on a roadside tree droops from the weight of the many small fruits. This particular tree, while not thinned and pruned to produce fewer but larger apples, is still a good source for “sauce” apples. A pie needs slices of larger fruit.

Wood Aster

themeadowsedge — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:22:07 +0000

The Wood Aster is blooming now in woodland clearings, the edges of woodlands, and even sides of country roads. The reddish stem appears to be twisted rather than straight. The leaves are sharply toothed and taper to a narrow base with no visible leaf stalk. The white ray flowers surrounding the yellow center may be tinged with purple. This particular aster grows in dry woods and clearings and is from eight to thirty-six inches tall.

The white Wood Aster (Oclemena acuminata) - a late summer flower.

Wild Berries

themeadowsedge — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:06:41 +0000

Twin berries of a Honeysuckle provide food for birds

This is a time of fruitful abundance in fields and woodlands. Many species of birds and mammals seek the berries, fruits, and seeds on shrubs, vines, and weedy plants.

Shrubs fruiting right now include Honeysuckles, Chokecheries, and Blackberries. Later, in the fall, Dogwoods, Euonymus, Bayberry and Viburnum will bear fruit. Vines with fruit are Bittersweet, Virginia Creeper, Poison Ivy, Greenbrier, and Grape.

Homeowners who want to attract birds often plant vines or shrubs on the borders of their lawns or garden areas. There are trees that serve as useful windbreaks in yards and provide seeds that birds enjoy, too: Mountain Ash, Wild Black Cherry, Birch, and Oaks are examples.