All in Wildlife Watching
Yellow warblers are one of many small songbirds that fly south for the winter and migrate back through North America in the springtime. They breed and raise their young throughout much of the United States and almost all of Canada during the spring and summer.
Most moths look very drab and boring. Many species have gray or tan wings with little or no other coloration. But not all of these night-time flyers are lackluster; some are actually quite colorful and beautiful. One of the most spectacular moths in North America is the large and colorful cecropia moth.
Some birds are seen but rarely heard. Others are just the opposite – heard but rarely seen! The gray catbird is one of those vocal, but very shy birds that people don’t often see. Aptly named, this gray-colored bird prefers to spend its time in thick underbrush and at least one of its many calls sounds like the lonely mew of a cat.
Utah Highway 12 passed through two red sandstone arches before we saw the sign for the Red Canyon campground. It had been an early start and a dash- this campground was first-come, first-served. We pulled in at 10 AM and found a site immediately.
Everyone has seen bumblebees in their back yards or in their flower gardens. These large, plump native bees are covered in soft hair that makes them look (and feel) fuzzy. Often, those hairs are covered with a thick layer of pollen grains.
Anyone who has spent much time gardening or cutting the lawn has probably encountered the tell-tale signs of an annoying yard pest: the Eastern Mole. Moles burrow through yards and leave a trail of destruction in the form of raised tunnels in the grass and large mounds of earth (molehills).
Butterflies are always fun to watch as they fly around our gardens, flitting from flower to flower as they sip nectar and pollinate the plants. Some of the largest and most interesting butterflies around here are swallowtails
When it comes to squirrels, none in North America are larger than the fox squirrel. Oh, sure, there are bigger squirrels elsewhere in the world – like the giant black squirrel from southeast Asia which can be almost three feet long – but the largest tree squirrel in the USA is the fox squirrel.
Everyone is familiar with the common North American raccoon. Raccoons thrive in almost every habitat in the United States: in both rural settings and in urban areas. They have mastered the ability to adapt to living conditions almost anywhere, and living right alongside humans is no problem for them.
One of the most recognizable birds that visit back yard bird feeders year-round is the Downy Woodpecker. These miniature woodpeckers are only slightly larger than sparrows and are definitely smaller than robins. Their starkly contrasting black and white feathers make them easy to identify as they flit through the tree branches.
The common snapping turtle has a well-deserved reputation for being bad-tempered. When handled by humans, they hiss and attempt to bite anyone trying to move or lift them. That bite can be quite dangerous, too, since their powerful jaws can amputate careless fingers.
One of the sure signs of springtime is the sight of the red admiral butterfly. Every year around this time our yards and gardens are invaded by colorful and fast-flying butterflies, and one of the most acrobatic is the red admiral.
