Nashville Warbler and Two Plants with “Rattlesnake” in the Name at Wilket Creek Park / May 8, 2019

It is not clear why a plant would have the word “rattlesnake” as part of the common name, but two that do were on view at Wilket Creek on this 8 degree sunny morning. Some say that parts of the plant were used to soothe rattlesnake bites.

Rattlesnake Root:

Rattlesnake-root (Prenathes alba)

Rattlesnake-weed has distinctive reddish purple borders on the leaf veins:

Rattlesnake-weed (Hieracium venosum)

I love the whitish-pubescent look of the leaves of this species of Serviceberry:

Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

May-apple is very distinctive with its “beach umbrella” appearance:

May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum)

“Peltate” means that the stalk of the leaf is attached to the middle of the leaf:

May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Other botany:

Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Early Meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)
Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
Christmas Fern
Red Oak acorns (Quercus rubra)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

Some park scenes:

This morning’s group:

We had only a few migrant birds this morning. Perhaps the majority are busy winging their way north in this good weather.

House Wren
White-throated Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I was unable to get a good photo of this Nashville Warbler but you can make out the gray hood and yellowish throat:

Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler

Species list: red-bellied woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, great crested flycatcher, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, house wren, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, Nashville warbler, brown-headed cowbird, Baltimore oriole, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow.  (17 species)

From the feeder area:

Brown-headed Cowbird (male)
Downy Woodpecker (female)

NATURE POETRY

Evening
by
Archibald Lampman
 From upland slopes I see the cows file by,
Lowing, great-chested, down the homeward trail,
By dusking fields and meadows shining pale
With moon-tipped dandelions. Flickering high,
A peevish night-hawk in the western sky
Beats up into the lucent solitudes
Or drops with gliding wing.The stilly woods
Grow dark and deep, and gloom mysteriously.
Cool night winds creep, and whisper in mine ear.
The homely cricket gossips at my feet.
From far-off pools and wastes of reeds I hear,
Clear and soft-piped, the chanting frogs break sweet
In full Pandean chorus. One by one
Shine out the stars, and the great night comes on.

Miles Hearn

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