by northoftheridge | Apr 29, 2013 | Uncategorized
There are only about thirteen species of turtle in Pennsylvania, maybe nine of those are found in the Central Ridge and Valley. Of these, perhaps the hardest to spot is the Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata).1 There is really nothing particularly striking about Spotted...
by northoftheridge | Feb 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
Long ago I served in Hawai’i. When I left the islands, I bought a wildlife painting to commemorate my tour. The painting shows an Old World flycatcher named the ‘Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis)—nifty little bird—which the Hawaiians considered to be the guardian...
by northoftheridge | Jan 1, 2013 | Uncategorized
April is usually a little early for dragonflies. I pick up a few Green Darners (Anax junius) throughout the month, but that is a pretty unmistakable dragonfly. In fact, I have seen Green Darners as early as 17 March. I also pick up one or two Common Whitetails...
by northoftheridge | Dec 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
Ever wonder about scientific names? Me too, especially ones that seem easy to translate, but hard to understand. I offer for your consideration, Oxyura jamaicensis, the Ruddy Duck. When Superstorm Sandy1 blew up the coast at the end of October, it dropped three Ruddy...
by northoftheridge | Oct 28, 2012 | Uncategorized
As October fades and November approaches, there is always a sense of loss. Certainly there is still much to see in the late autumn hills, but much of what we see is fleeting in nature; death or death-like sleep is imminent for so many, and it will be months before the...
