More signs of Summer

Learning to “Dabble”

Water fowl tend to feed in one of two ways….either they dive down to the bottom to grab crustaceans, fish, or vegetation or the “Dabble”. Birds dabble by staying in one place at the surface of shallow water and using their long necks and bills to grab plants and other food from the bottom. When Mute swan cygnets are first born, the parents pull up vegetation from the bottom for the chicks to eat at the surface. After only 2 to 3 weeks of hatching, the cygnets start to learn how to pull up their own dinner by “tipping” and grabbing food from the bottom. It appears that this little guy is just learning and hasn’t quite mastered the practice of “dabbling” yet!

As we approach the summer months, bird activity that we can observe becomes a bit less obvious. Some of the birds we saw in spring have continued to move north to their breeding grounds. Others will stick around here and set up shop in this part of New York. When they do, their vocalizations become fewer and more muted as they know enough not to broadcast their position to potential predators. Blue-gray gnatcatchers like the one photographed today are early nesters in New York. They arrive in this area in mid to late April and begin nesting within two weeks of their arrival. I saw two gnatcatchers today and one had an insect in its bill indicating that there may well be young in its nest by now. Another sign of summer’s arrival.

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

The old saying of “April showers bring May flowers” has stretched in June this year and the grasslands, meadows, and roadsides are now ablaze with the color of new wildflowers. The beautiful yellow flower seen here is known as “Bird’s foot trefoil”. Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the legume family, known for its distinctive yellow flowers that resemble a bird's foot. This hardy plant typically grows in meadows, grasslands, and disturbed areas, thriving in a variety of soil types and conditions. Its unique name derives from the shape of its seed pods, which resemble the toes of a bird which, with a little imagination, can be seen in today’s pic.

Another wildflower found throughout similar habitat here in the Highlands is Bladder campion. Bladder campion (Silene vulgaris) is a perennial wildflower known for its distinctive balloon-like seed capsules that give it its common name. The plant features slender, erect stems and pale green leaves, with clusters of delicate white to pale pink flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Bladder campion is valued not only for its unique appearance but also for its role in supporting various pollinators.

Our last (but certainly not least) sign of summer is the appearance of a Monarch butterfly feeding on the nectar of Common Milkweed. Common milkweed, scientifically known as Asclepias Syriaca, is a perennial plant native to North America. As in the case of the previous two flowers today, Common milkweed is often found in fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas. Characterized by its large, broad leaves and distinctive clusters of pinkish-purple flowers, this plant serves as a primary food source for the monarch butterfly caterpillars, providing nourishment essential for their development. As adults, the Monarchs revisit the milkweed as a prime source of nectar. Without milkweed, the monarch could face a tough road ahead. Many nature lovers have taken to planting milkweed in their yards in the hopes that their contribution will help the Monarchs thrive.

Monarch butterfly on Common milkweed