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Pennsylvania's Ridges and Valleys

8/1/2020

The Appalachian Mountains in the eastern US have what is known as the "Ridge and Valley" region. It's extensive, but shows up across much of central and east-central Pennsylvania. It is, just as the name implies, ridges, separated by valleys.

I recently hiked to the top of one ridge, and took this somewhat typical image of what the ridge and valley in Pennsylvania looks like. Scattered farms and woodlots on the more or less flat valleys, and forested ridges.

Ridge and Valley landscape in Pennsylvania

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Young coyote near Blakeslee, PA

7/23/2020

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Projects since Michigan have been all day and night with no opportunities for photos. But saw this young coyote today and put down all the gear I was carrying to get the camera out. It was poking around the wetland in the foreground, but heard me when I set down a big bag of aluminum poles and started up the road. Disappeared in the weeds right after I took this pic.

Young coyote near Blakeslee, PA

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Port Crescent State Park

6/26/2020

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My project is complete in Michigan and moving on to the next thing. This just seemed like a nice image to wrap things up.

Port Crescent State Park, Michigan

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Red-winged blackbirds

6/24/2020

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I was recently hiking at the Huron County Nature Center and Wilderness Arboretum in Port Austin, Michigan. Nice place, but bring the bug spray.

At the far end of the trail system there is a short boardwalk over some swampy ground, and saw this female red-winged blackbird with a mouthful of bugs.

Female red-winged blackbird

So I stopped to look around a bit more. Quite soon this male red-winged blackbird showed up and started chattering and displaying his wing feathers.

Male red-winged blackbird displaying wing patches

So probably by now you've guessed the final photo. There was a single fledgling in the underbrush. The male was trying to scare me away, while the female was bringing in a beakload of food.

Fledgling red-winged blackbird

I headed off to let them get back to things.

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Turkey Vulture

6/24/2020

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Well, what's to say. It is a vulture, and honestly looks a fair lot like a turkey. It's a turkey vulture.

Turkey vulture from near Kinde, Michigan

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Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

6/24/2020

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The northern leopard frog has some color variations from nearly brown through vivid lime green. I'd say this one is pretty far into the lime green zone.

Northern leopard frog from near Kinde, Michigan

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Common Yellowthroat (female)

6/24/2020

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Male common yellowthroats have a bold black mask and sing "whichity whichity which" all day long, and thus are easy to spot and easy to identify. The female, however, is much more quiet, secretive and in general without field marks besides the coloration of the feathers, legs and bill. They aren't a bold as the males, but still quite attractive birds when you get a chance to see them.

Female common yellowthroat from near Kinde, Michigan

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Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes tharos) in Michigan

6/24/2020

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A widespread species, this pearl crescent butterfly was seen this morning in a meadow near a channelized stream. Lots of wildlife in these types of areas of Michigan.

Pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos) in Michigan

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Yellow Warbler Singing

6/24/2020

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This yellow warbler was singing away from his perch in a patch of multiflora rose. One of the most common warblers in the area, these have been seen pretty much every day.

Yellow warbler singing in the multiflora rose

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Mourning Warbler

6/24/2020

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I don't get to see these very often, but Michigan is far enough north to be within the breeding range of the mourning warbler. This male was foraging in a woodlot but not singing.