Week 9 - Green-Wood Cemetery

Week 9 saw very subtle changes in the avian world. The lengthening days, however, have accelerated more obvious transformations in the botanics.

Bird song has definitely increased and I look forward to the month of May's dawn chorus. Our two resident Red-tailed Hawk pairs are spending more time together resting, preening and collecting nest material. I've found one pair's nest, but have had no luck locating "Horace's" parent's new location.

Red-tailed Hawk pair at Crescent Water

The males in the mixed flock of waterfowl on Sylvan Water have been bobbing their heads as part of their spring choreography to gain the female's attention.

Male Bufflehead, Sylvan Water

I've noticed more vultures heading north over the cemetery.

Turkey Vulture, hawkwatch hill

At least one of the overwintering Merlin is still around. A favorite perch it hunts from is the ridge behind the Steinway family mausoleum. It gives this speedy predator a great vantage point to watch the sparrows foraging in the open area of the Locust Grove mausoleums below.

Merlin, chapel hill

Here are several botanics from the past week that I noticed either fully blooming or just about to:

Hellebore

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata 'Rosea')

Burkwood Viburnum (Viburnum × burkwoodii) along Ravine Path

Spring Heath (Erica carnea)

Spring Crocus (Crocus vernus)

Purple Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)

Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)