17 Could 2025
This week I went birding in three western Pennsylvania parks: Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Moraine State Park in Butler County (midway north) and Presque Isle State Park on the northern fringe of PA. Whereas there I observed how crops confirmed the progress of spring from south to north.
Schenley Park has been at Full Leaf since 5 Could so it’s arduous to see the birds there. Within the understory white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) hsa simply gone previous its blooming peak. Two “weedy” crops caught my consideration, recognized within the PictureThis app as slender woodsorrel (Oxalis dillenii a local species) and mouse ear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum) launched from Europe.
For comparability, PictureThis recognized this one discovered at Presque Isle as sticky mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum), additionally European.
Although Schenley Park had already been at Full Leaf for six days on 11 Could, oak leaves have been simply popping out at Moraine State Park.
I discovered poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii) leaves in all three parks. At Presque Isle the leaves have been smaller and newer however nonetheless in a position to trigger an itch. Poison ivy is getting large in Schenley Park on 14 Could. Be careful!
One week after Full Leaf, I noticed this yr’s first yellow poplar weevil* (Odontopus calceatus) clinging to my window. They often swarm in June however final week was unusually scorching.
(* Regardless of realizing higher I can’t assist however name these bugs “billbugs” although I do know the title is unsuitable. Oy!)
