Signs of Spring: Falling leaves, Birdsong, Raptors and Butterflies

The redbuds on the island are in full bloom, and signs of spring are everywhere.  Green buds and catkins push out from the branches of willows, and monarchs flutter along the roadsides.  Along the bank of one of the freshwater ponds, a huge alligator looks like an ancient statue, covered in algae and pollen.  The other day I sat still and listened for a few minutes.  I became aware of a funny rustling sound in the trees, and scanned carefully to see whether it was a raccoon or deer in the underbrush.  After watching for a while, I finally figured out that that funny metallic rattle was the live oak leaves, tumbling groundward, fluttering into other, greener leaves and bark.  Live Oaks, Quercus virginiana, lose many of their leaves in the spring.  As the new buds begin to push out on the branches, the older, yellower leaves blow through the forest. Pine warblers have begun singing their high-pitched rhythmic trill, as have the Northern Cardinals.  A great horned owl glared balefully at me when I got too close to her nest, as did the bald eagle nesting on the osprey platform.

Last week, the ospreys returned and were surprised to find the eagles nesting on that platform.  After repeatedly diving at the nest, with the eagles defiantly standing ground with their wings out, the ospreys ended up in thrilling aerial displays with the male eagle actively fighting them off with his talons. (Unfortunately, I was on the ferry at the time!) I was glad to see her still there this week.

Red Admiral Butterfly
Along Old House Lane, Red Admiral butterflies startle and zip off as the cart goes by… we have even had them charge at us as we interrupted their sunning along the road. Pine trees are getting ready to explode with pollen, while the Carolina Jessamine hangs, showy, from the tallest reaches of the forest, dropping their golden blossoms on the pine needle paths at our feet.

This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. Artus Moser March 2, 2012

    Nice!!!!

  2. Ginny Moser March 2, 2012

    OH, I can’t wait to get back on island!

  3. Betty Yearout March 2, 2012

    We were on the island last week when the osprey was diving at the eagles. It was quite an adventure for about 30 minutes ! Not only did the osprey dive at the eagles in their nest but at one point, the male eagle left the nest and flew around diving and chasing the osprey over the impoundment before he finally returned to the nest. The osprey was in retreat…for the time being. During all this the female never left the nest.

  4. Marion cotton March 2, 2012

    Amazing photography. Thanks so much.

  5. Barbara McIntyre March 3, 2012

    Wow! This reads like a love story!…and, of course, it is!

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