Author: Mike Dunn
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A Most Aptly Named Bird
I think Delaware got it wrong. The Blue Hen is the official state bird of this fine state, but in both color and species they have missed the boat. My vote would be for the Red-winged Blackbird. Displaying males are the most common species seen at Prime Hook and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuges. They… Read more…
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Jersey Shore…birds
A quick post to share a highlight of the trip thus far to New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virginia Eastern Shore – huge flocks of shorebirds seen at Heislerville Wildlife Management Area in NJ. How many species can you see? Read more…
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Refuges Revisited
Spent a windy, dusty day in the field with friends on Wednesday exploring my two favorite refuges in NC – Mattamuskeet and Pocosin Lakes. It has been two weeks since I was last down that way and things have changed dramatically – the heat is here as are the deer flies (both of which have… Read more…
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A Black and White Spring
The question is not what you look at, but what you see. Henry David Thoreau Winter is usually thought of as gray and stark. Spring is viewed as a time of color – the varied greens of leaf out and the splashes of color from the unfolding display of wildflowers. But there are times even… Read more…
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Elk Garden
My Dad’s birthday and Mother’s Day are both the second week of May so I try to get home each May for a visit. As it turns out, it is also the prime time for a visit to one of my favorite areas in Virginia – the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Covering over 200,000… Read more…
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Wrens in the Yard
While doing some chores yesterday (sweeping unbelievable amounts of accumulated pollen off the screen porch) I heard the resident Carolina Wrens scolding something. Since their new nest location is right off the screen porch I thought it might be me disturbing them, but it was so emphatic I decided to take a closer look. The… Read more…
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Another Great Day at Pungo
I guess it isn’t enough to be a mere observer. It’s turning to the person on your right, or left, and stating with an undiluted sense of joy and inquisitiveness, “Did you just see that?” Mike McDowell I had my first post-retirement outing yesterday with a great group of folks from the Bass Lake Photo… Read more…
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A Bounty of Bluebirds
A friend posted a picture yesterday of bluebirds in her nest box. So I went out this morning and checked the one box I have that can be easily opened, and it looks like a good bluebird spring! The male and female were watching me as I went over to the box and opened it… Read more…
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Crossvine
I am a native plant promoter and have been for many years. While there is nothing wrong with planting ornamentals in the landscape (as long as they are not potential problematic invasives) I appreciate getting to know our native species and encouraging them in my landscape and in those of schools and other public areas… Read more…
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A New Invader
While looking for critters in the garden last summer I noticed a bug I had never seen before – an odd-shaped little brown insect. I looked in my insect guides but didn’t see anything that was a match and then something probably came up to distract me and it was filed under “things to look… Read more…
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Roads End Naturalist 