31 July 2023
The day prior to this morning’s stroll at Frick Park had nice climate, a lot of contributors and just right birds.
Early within the stroll we encountered horsenettle (Solanum carolinense), pictured above, whose vegetation are very similar to the ones of its family members within the Solanaceae or Nightshade circle of relatives together with tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant (referred to as aubergine in the United Kingdom). Although it’s now not a nettle, its not unusual identify refers back to the thorns on its leaves. Do you know the leaves odor like potatoes when overwhelmed? Thorns save you me from making an attempt this. (NOTE: This simply in! An editorial in regards to the suitable for eating Nightshades in The Mother or father https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/31/the-truth-about-nightshades-four-online-myths-about-potatoes-tomatoes-and-aubergines.)
Absolute best Birds have been an excessively cooperative yellow billed cuckoo and an elusive inexperienced heron. The cuckoo posed for us, the golf green heron zoomed away. Later the heron zoomed in and landed above us close to a 2nd inexperienced heron. Two!
Within the 9 Mile Run valley I marveled at this confluence of a muddy tributary with the principle stem of 9 Mile Run. This, in microcosm, is just like the confluence of the clear-running Allegheny with the muddy Monongahela River at The Level.
Our eBird tick list is right here and proven beneath.
Frick Park–9 Mile Run, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Jul 30, 2023 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
1.75 miles, 24 species, 17 contributors
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) 2 Just right seems to be at one in every of them
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 1
Inexperienced Heron (Butorides virescens) 2
Pink-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 3
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 5
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Pink-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 3
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 5
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2 Teenager chasing an grownup for meals
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 3
Eu Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 5
Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 5
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 3
Box Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 1
Tune Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 7
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 4
Commonplace Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 2
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1 Feminine observed in short
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 7
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 3
(pictures through/for Kate St. John)