Wildlife Observations

Swarthmorean contributor Robert Scott lists every species mentioned in this column in 2020, and reports on sightings of a special red-tailed hawk.

Deprived of access to my most fertile observation grounds — the Crum Woods (curse you, COVID!) – I have recently rediscovered the Taylor Arboretum, in the very southwest corner of Nether Providence Township. Taylor Arboretum consists of 30 acres bounded on one side by Ridley Creek and containing a nice mix of habitats – woods, meadow, creek, and wetlands. Its many native plants, including meadows full of goldenrod and several patches of pawpaw trees currently bearing fruit, attract wildlife.

I look forward to fall for the chance to watch the southbound migration of warblers leaving the boreal forests of Canada for Central and South America. Certain patterns are evident. The American redstarts and black-and-white warblers are generally the first to come through, often starting in mid-August, and yellow-rumped warblers close out the migration season in late fall.

This column last ran on July 3, under the headline “Solstice Stillness” and bemoaned the relative lack of wildlife activity — or at least any observations beyond the usual suspects (robins, gray squirrels, sparrows, etc.) during the hot months. The reduced number of observation submissions to the Swarthmorean in July bore this out. But over the last week, two submissions arrived with first-time critter sightings: a snapping turtle and an American eel! Let’s hope this marks a continuing upturn as we slowly but surely approach the fall migration.

The pull of the sun, magnetic fields, and prevailing winds have done their jobs. Migration is done, the young have left or are about to leave the nest/den/burrow, and the pull of the reverse migration has not yet been felt. Most creatures are taking a short vacation.

So many readers submitted observations and photos of wildlife in the past two weeks that I can’t include them all here. This article will focus on observations made from people’s own residences.

Anthony Addison continues to see fox kits on the 300 block of Cornell Avenue in the early morning, and he submitted a totes adorbs photo of two of them frolicking. He believes there are five kits in the litter.

Best bird photo of the month goes to Fred Tinter of Swarthmore for a photo of an eastern screech owl (red morph) which settled into the owl box he recently installed. “About two weeks ago, I put up an owl box in hopes that we might have a screech owl move in next year. Today, we were surprised to see that I was very far off in that estimate.”

In my last column,“Herp Alert,” I mentioned two snakes in the act of mating that were undeterred by my approach, fleeing into the creek, still conjoined in flagrante. Continuing that theme, Lily Scott of Swarthmore submitted a photograph of two American toads doing the dance with no pants, making the beast with two backs, or whatever your euphemism of choice may be.

March 8 seemed to mark the official wake-from-hibernation day for reptiles and amphibians, as Greg Hoy and Marie Koethe, both of Swarthmore, submitted photographs of an eastern ribbon snake and three wood frogs, respectively. Marie reports that her frogs had already deposited egg sacs!

Have you noticed the morning birdsong? My favorite is the “cheeseburger-cheeseburger-cheeseburger-cheese” call of the Carolina wren, which has been audible for a month now. While I enjoy waking up to the sound, early February is unseasonably early to hear it.

Peg Christiansen submitted two photographs, taken by Lisa D’Antonio, of foxes visiting the now closed Strath Haven Condo pool. Peg wrote: “Guess they did not know: (1) it is closed for the winter, (2) you need to be a resident to use it, and (3) you need a pool pass.”

December saw a dearth of submissions, but in the past fortnight, a plethora of reports poured in. Anthony Addison saw this full-coated red fox in its winter colors in his yard on Cornell Avenue in Swarthmore.

Marc Williamson submitted a photograph of a previously unreported species: a group of black vultures, not the usual garden-variety turkey vultures, dining on a road-killed squirrel.

Thanks to readers for heeding the call in last week’s article to keep the submissions coming. While observations may decrease at this time of year, species like the hooded merganser and brown creeper are only resident in this area in winter. So keep looking — the seasonal variation is part of what keeps it interesting.

In these past three weeks, observations have been sparse — a few surprising herps, but mostly birds that migrate here in winter. I mistakenly predicted a few weeks ago that reptile observations had likely finished for the year, and then I saw a ribbon snake on a sunny 50° day in my yard.

Tom Hals submitted a photograph of a common garter snake coiled in a tree in the Crum Woods. He said that the snake appeared to be several feet long. While garter snakes tend to be smaller, they can grow as long as five feet, so this one must have some longevity.

Louise Coffin submitted a photograph of a dreadful infestation of spotted lanternflies which she reported was “One swarm of many noted on a maple tree on Dartmouth Avenue.” If you see the flies (actually tree hoppers that can fly short distances) and/or their egg masses, try to bring yourself to smash them. Info on these invasive pests and the damage they do.

Since the last report, the highlight of my outings has been an American toad observed on the trail at the Saul Wildlife Preserve in Rose Valley. On the migratory bird front: several black-throated blue warblers, a palm warbler, a red-eyed vireo seen at the Saul Wildlife Preserve and, on the trail between the Rose Valley Swim Club, a ruby-crowed kinglet. I also observed sharp-shinned hawks in my front yard and in the Crum Woods Meadow.

Things should start to get interesting right about now. — “Mississippi,” by Bob Dylan

I was hoping to build on last week’s warbler report, but my only warbler observation this week was one American redstart in my yard. I also saw red-eyed vireos in both the Crum Woods meadow and the Saul Wildlife Preserve in Rose Valley, and the northern water snake basking in the stream bank rocks in the Saul Wildlife Preserve (photo online). Also in the Saul Wildlife Preserve, Chris Bourke saw a common garter snake on September 8.

Hey-ho, fellow nature enthusiasts, the fall warbler migration is finally upon us! Warblers are this correspondent’s favorite birding quarry. Of the roughly two dozen common Eastern United States species, only a few nest in our community. But come spring and fall, a steady stream of specimens pass through on their migratory routes.

Since the Swarthmorean was on break and did not publish last week, this week’s report covers a two-week period, which came in like summer and closed with a hint of fall in the air. And this week’s sightings, including common nighthawks, red-eyed vireos and (gasp!), a bald eagle, all evidence that fall migration is officially underway.

“If you plant it, they will come” is the theme that weaves through many of this week’s submissions. Joe-pye-weed, milkweed and coneflowers are all common native plants that attract butterflies and birds. Add some wildlife attracting-plantings to your yard, and you too could be among the citizen-scientists and naturalists to be featured in this prestigious publication!

I mentioned in last week’s column that we’ve passed the midpoint between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox, and that there would soon be evidence of fall bird migration. And while I’ve read reports of warblers migrating through Cape May already, I haven’t seen any such evidence locally. Birds often migrate South by riding cold fronts down from Canada. With cooler weather predicted for next week, keep an eye peeled for greater bird variety.

My own outings this week have proved fruitless (and fauna-less), so I’m especially pleased to have received submissions out of Rutledge and Rose Valley. Now if only some Nether Providence residents would participate. There is great habitat in Nether Providence, with Crum Creek Reservoir, the Houston Tract/Urban Field and Leiper Park, among others. Surely there are some regular walkers/observers of these areas, so please come forward!

Thanks for the interest shown in the Swarthmorean’s new “Wildlife Sightings” report. This week, my own observations have consisted of a common garter snake and a crayfish, both in Little Crum Creek where it emerges from its underground conduit on our property at the corner of Lafayette and South Princeton Avenue.