It’s December 5, 2022. On my daily walk today along the Rail Path in Brookhaven Township, Suffolk County, NY, on this early December day, the plants and animals only confirm what the astronomers tell us: that the sun continues to rise later and set earlier every day. That is: shorter and shorter days. Today the yellowish star of our solar system provides only 9 hours and 23 minutes of light. Furthermore, its life-giving rays arrive at a lower and lower elevation each day—the result of Earth’s axial tilt. Mother Nature has responded to these events. The natural world has turned cold and crisp, its color and textures now mostly brown and crinkly. So there are fewer plant and animal reports these days. (On the 23rd we will observe the shortest day, only 9 hours and15 minutes. But from then on ….thankfully…the days will increase in length again!.)
I record below my nature observations for this date of low light and cold temperatures .
Bird life has responded to this solar “darkening and lowering” by departing for sunnier climes. So on this date there were only a few avian species to record. I did observe and identify a small flock of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia)which fluttered across the path. I identified them by the prominent spot on their chests —only visible when they alighted on a still-green Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) vine. A pair of House Finches, (Haemorhous mexicanus ) was spotted foraging among the brushy border along the path. The male’s reddish brown head and chest caught my eye. Further on, a small flock of Slate Colored Juncos (Junco hyemalis hyemalis) rose up from the leaf strewn brown grasses, the flash of the gray and characteristic tail, with twin-white stripes—indicated their species. Two dull, pale brown Mourning Doves (Zenidia macroura) were also spotted feeding among the dry grass.
A lone turkey hen (Meleagris gallopavo) has been observed regularly feeding in this area, where it foraged on the seeds of Stiff Yellow Foxtail grass (Setaria pumila) seed heads. In the late fall this grass species dominated a large areas of the grassy border area along either side of the Rail Path. Up until recently this hen was regularly observed pecking at the seed heads of this particular grass species. Upon closer examination I determined that each fruiting head, has stiff awns protecting its seeds, nevertheless, at the base of each awn a green to dark brown, easily detached, seed about the size of a sesame seed lies loosely attached. I counted at least five (often many more) easily released from seed head manually. Thus the seeds were probably easily detached and consumed at the snap of the turkey’s beak.
This particular bird was observed during much of October and November feeding along one area of the Path where this grass species grew in profusion. Up until about late November the turkey returned regularly to this area where it was observed foraging always among the S. pumila. I observed it once again after Thanksgiving Day! But I have not seen it in this area since. The Stiff Yellow Foxtail grass seem to have in large degree dropped their seeds…so perhaps the turkey hen is now foraging elsewhere.
Today, also I received an interesting avian report from a competent nature observer on Eastern Long Island ( in Quogue) where an adult Bald Eagle (Haliaieetus leucocephalus ) was observed feeding on the body of a raccoon (Procyon lotor) . There was no information about the raccoon prey. Was it taken live by the eagle, or was the nation’s great symbolic bird hungry enough to eat carrion? It was not clear.
In regard to local mammals. I observed a lonely Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus ) hopping off into some deep cover under a dense Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) tree. Other evidences of the presence of this species was its characteristic small brown, flattened pellet droppings on the edge of the path.
A White-tailed doe deer (Odocoilius virginianus) bounded out from thick brush on the north side of the Rail Path on this date. She stopped to stare at me. Her gaze seemed to pose the question, was I friend or foe? I looked away, to assure her, as I continued my 19 min/mile walking pace to insure her that I was simply a passer by and no threat. She moved on quickly.
But her real concern was immediately apparent, for at the very place where she had just exited from a brushy thicket of gray-leaved Russian Olive (Eleagnus augustifolia) , there poked out the muzzle and head of large buck deer sporting a wide, eight or ten point rack. The top tines on it’s sturdy antlers gleamed a polished light brown in the morning sun. Ignoring my presence the buck pushed out of the thicket, his wide rack, entangled with a length of Bittersweet vine which was torn from the thicket and dangled from one of the tines of his rack as he sauntered across my path. He seemed completely oblivious of this impediment, and of me. Focused on his female quarry his heavily muscled haunch rocked with each determined step as he purposefully sauntered over the grassy clearing after the doe. She bounded off, crossing the asphalt path to enter an large oak-wood patch of dense woods on the north side of the path where they both quickly disappeared from view.
A short time later, going east, on my return walk and passing the same clearing, I encountered the pair again. The buck driving the doe ahead of him in his determined pursuit. I worried that in their distraction they would carelessly cross one of the many busy roads in this area at the wrong time. But thankfully there was no evidence of that event.
Apparently, in early December, the mating season for deer or “rut” is in still full swing, at least here on Long Island.
Over this past year, along this section of the Rail Path I have observed several woodchuck (Marmota monax). In a one-mile stretch, I counted at least four adult individuals early in the Spring. I also identified the entrance to the subterranean abode of one of this species.
The low opening to the burrow was dug close to the asphalt margin on the south side of the trail. The muddy footprints of the occupants associated with the burrow appeared as easily observed evidences on the dark asphalt as I regularly passed along this path. On one occasion I did observe the brown furry marmot, near the mouth of its home, and watched as it scurried away into the dark entrance. Once in the early fall, I observed this same woodchuck clambering on the thickly vegetated bank above the entrance, apparently foraging among the Mile a Minute Vine (Persicaria perfoliata) , Japanese Honeysuckle and Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Perhaps at that season it was foraging for bedding materials for its sleeping nest. These vines flourished on the raised bank of earth that formed the locale of the burrow.
I have not seen the original occupant since that early fall observation, after which it soon likely settled into its special hibernation chamber and fell off into a deep winter sleep.
Although the woodchuck has not been observed since the fall, the muddy footprints persisted into the present time, being regularly observed coming and presumably going from the obvious muddy burrow which debouches right into the asphalt surface of the rail path. These evidences form a clearly visible track which continue across the path and into a narrow defile through the thick grasses on the far side of the path, where they continue on, apparently under a fence into a neighboring back yard. The woodchuck is surely in hibernation, but what critter has taken up its “sub let” and makes daily visits to a human’s back yard?
The muddy, indistinct tracks near the burrow, often disturbed or smudged or partly obliterated by foot and bicycle traffic have been difficult to identify as to which animal species produced them. Though last winter after a light snowfall I did identify the tracks in the snow at the mouth of the burrow of a mature raccoon (Procyon lotor). I presumed this indicated that a raccoon had taken up residence there in one of the abandoned tunnels or chambers during the winter months—while the woodchuck slept away sealed in and on a bed of dry grasses and leaves in its cozy hibernation chamber .
Today as I passed this spot again I was surprised to see another occupant, a feral domestic cat ( Felis domesticus) near the mouth of the burrow. The large black and white cat, observing me , exited from the surrounding brush and quickly entered the low opening of the burrow where it immediately disappeared.
That was the only actual visual observation made of any occupants—other than the woodchuck itself. So perhaps the raccoon has gone and a new “sub let” has been added to the burrow. The distinct path through the grass to a backyard fence suggests some human neighbor may be feeding this unwanted feral predator.
Another marmot observation: During the earlier days of fall I obswerved a woodchuck foraging on a patch of greenery along the edge of the path. As I approached it scurried away. Marking the site, I approached to observe just what species of forb or herb it favored. The greenery was a patch of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) sprouts. The mature plants had been mowed in this area and the Mugwort roots appear to have sprouted anew in the cooler fall weather. The woodchuck seemed to be consuming young shoots of this species. This plant’s mature leaves are strongly aromatic and may be unpleasant tasting (?) but perhaps the very young shoots are less so. This late in the season, perhaps few other young sprouted green plants were available, this scarcity may explain its choice of Mugwort.
The only surviving herbs and forbs after our recent episode of sub freezing weather are : Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), which is very common, it’s dark green rounded leaves—like tiny hoofs—growing luxuriously along fence rows, brush or woodland edges, or at the base of any sloping soil surface where its roots may enjoy some subsurface advantage for moisture. Celandine (Chelidonium majus)is less common, but flourishes in protected areas. Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is seen growing and even flowering (it’s tiny purple or pink flowers stand out among the brown fallen leaves ) in some areas. The ubiquitous, fragrant and thin green hairy patches of wild Chives (Allium schoenoprassum) occur widely. Also observed, though less common, are the light green and hoary basal rosette leaves of the Giant Mullein (Thapsus verbascum) which were observed still thriving on this late fall day. Then too, still green and vibrant, are the several scattered stands of bamboo (Phyllostachys sp?) which occur east of Miller Place Road on this section of the rail path.
While all else is in winter and cold weather retreat, some vines maintain their summer color such as Japanese Bittersweet, Green Briar (Smilax rotundifolia) , and Multiflora Rose ( Rosa multiflora) )which continue in green, even as they hang precariously supported by the now dry brown stiff remains of leafless trees and formerly luxuriant growing weeds such as Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana ) and Mugwort and other cold sensitive plants.
And so ends our fall season here in the mid latitudes.
