Week 45 - Green-Wood Cemetery

With only 7 weeks left of the year, the 2024 seasonal changes have slowed to a crawl. Most of the trees have released their foliage, although a few species are still holding on, morphing through their brilliant color phase before the final leaf drop.

Higan Cherry

Pignut Hickory

Japanese Maple

Sourwood

American Ash trees are loaded with clusters of its dried fruit, which will become a gathering place for arriving finches and other wintering seed-eaters.

American Ash

I was surprised to stumble on a Kousa Dogwood still covered with fruit. However, the fruit was dried and hard, not really possible for birds to consume. A different cultivar, perhaps?

Kousa Dogwood

Fox Sparrows have finally begun arriving in the cemetery. They'll be joining the Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows for the next four months or so, until Spring arrives.

Fox Sparrow

Lots of waterfowl are on the move. Early mornings the sky is filled with honking, v-formation flocks of Canada Geese heading south. We've been seeing nervous flocks of tiny, colorful Wood Ducks stopping off in the cemetery. Yesterday our early morning group witnessed a Peregrine Falcon chasing a pair of Gadwall, which settled down for the afternoon at Crescent Water.

Wood Ducks

Gadwall

A pair of Merlins have joined the overwintering Cooper's Hawks, dining on the abundant birdlife attempting to survive the long winter.

Merlin

It was a good season for Eastern Bluebirds, with a fair number seen throughout much of the city. The last of the flocks that were resting and refueling at the cemetery seemed to have moved on, although I wouldn't discount a lone individual staying around through the winter.

Eastern Bluebird

Our young Red-headed Woodpecker near the Elias Howe monument is still around. Recent photos show that he is already growing his namesake red plumes.

Immature Red-headed Woodpecker

Late-October to November is historically a time to look for vagrant species in our area. Last year we saw two unusual species of flycatcher in the cemetery: Ash-throated Flycatcher and Western Kingbird. I mention this because, while not in Green-Wood Cemetery, a Western Kingbird is now hanging around Bush Terminal Park, around 1 mile down the slope from the cemetery. Perhaps it will fly over for a visit.

Western Kingbird

The Striped Skunks in the cemetery are primarily nocturnal, so they are usually only seen either at dawn or around sunset. While they don't technically hibernate, they will enter a period of inactivity or torpor during the winter. In late fall they will spend a lot of time eating to add extra fat to their body. So I wasn't surprised to find one out and foraging during my early morning "Birding in Peace" tour yesterday. If you happen on one, there's no need to panic. They aren't interested in interacting with humans. Just quietly watch them from a distance and, as tempting as it might seem, please do not try to pet one...you'll definitely regret it.

Striped Skunk