What's Under the Rock?

Red-backed salamanders feed on a large variety of invertebrates. These include mites, spiders, insects, centipedes, millipedes, beetles, snails, ants, earthworms, flies, and larvae. They forage by thrusting out their tongue in a quick, forward motion and capturing the prey.

Red-backed salamanders become sexually mature (able to mate) in approximately two years. Males mate every year and females mate once every other year.

Red-backed salamanders lay eggs that develop directly into small salamanders. They do not have an aquatic larva stage, such as is found in other salamanders and most amphibians.

He's Back!! Bobcat Returns

While enjoying our Sunday dinner at 2PM in our sunroom today, the bobcat suddenly appeared, stalking a dove near the birdfeeder. Fortunately, the dove got away, but I was able to get these photos.

Photos by D. Carlson

March 15, 2009

Doe - Winter vs. Spring Coat

This is our resident Doe - Apple - showing her Winter coat and Spring coat.

Photos by D. Carlson

Junco

In the eastern United States, the Junco appears in all but the most northern states only in the winter, and then retreat each spring.

Photo by D. Carlson

Sparrow at Feeder

March 2nd

Photo by D. Carlson

Tufted Titmouse

Feeding during the March 2nd snowstorm.

Titmice often establish food caches in their territory consisting of seeds stored under bark and in the ground.

Photo by D. Carlson

Cardinals during March 2rd Snowstorm

We had a 15" snowfall in Shelton on March 2nd. Plenty of activity at the feeder!

Photo by D. Carlson

White-Tailed Deer - Buck

Photo by D. Carlson

Our biggest buck this season!

White-Tailed Deer - Young Doe

Photo by D. Carlson

One of our many "regulars" waiting for breakfast.

We call this one "Princess"

Opossum

Photo by: D. Carlson

Opossums are usually solitary and nomadic, staying in one area as long as food and water are easily available.

Threatened opossums (especially males) will growl deeply, raising their pitch as the threat becomes more urgent. Males make a clicking "smack" noise out of the side of their mouths as they wander in search of a mate, and females will sometimes repeat the sound in return.

Sparrow - Puffed Up to keep warm!

Photo by D. Carlson

Birds will “puff up” in the winter to keep warm. Air is an excellent insulator. That means that heat doesn’t pass well through it. When a bird puffs up its down feathers, it’s trapping air in-between them. This has the result of surrounding the bird’s body with a layer of air that acts as an insulating shield. This way the bird’s own body heat won’t escape as easily.