The smallest buck walked away, browsed a bit, and headed back into the forest. Shortly after, they butted heads, shoved each other for a few seconds and then broke apart. In a minute, they were head-to-head, their ears laid back and a short staring contest began. Soon after, another first year buck with even smaller antlers walked into the clearing and stared at the 5-point buck. He then urinates on the “scrape” on the ground too. Scrapes are made by male deer for a few reasons, mostly to let his scent on head high limbs using glands on his facial area. Ten minutes later a young buck, sporting a small 5-point set of antlers moseyed over to a scrape. The buck was probably following the scent of a doe. It was on a mission and almost looked like a bloodhound on a trail. I wasn’t surprised when about five minutes later, a small 6- or 8-point buck appeared. I also know that from late October through mid-November it is white-tailed deer breeding season, the rut. Maybe it just wanted to let the area know he/she was awake.Īs enough daylight filtered in, I sat hoping to see the bear that has been leaving some scat nearby, or maybe deer moving to their bedding areas. Soon after the thrush awoke, a red squirrel in a hemlock near me chattered. Insects are scarce to find in winter but autumn olive fruits, sumac, or green briar berries will allow them to subsist. Hermit thrushes do migrate, but a few hardy ones can overwinter in the Times News area if they can find a suitable berry crop. They are re-establishing pair bonds, will soon find an old hawk nest, tidy it up a bit, and by late January, have mated and begin egg laying.Ībout the time the owl hooting stopped a hermit thrush began “chipping” near me.

What I heard was a pair of great horned owls, maybe the same pair I’ve heard in that area before. After about 10 minutes, the sky brightened a bit, the hooting stopped. Even though the male is smaller, his hooting is the deeper of the two. Fifteen seconds later a deeper hoot in response. In less than a minute a distant great horned owl called. 1 a front had cleared the area and I had I good feeling about “getting out there.” I got to my blind with just a hint of light on the horizon and a cool 33 degrees. I needed to just find a way to “get out there” more. My knee surgery had really limited my outdoor excursions.

Spring nature bingo