One thing we can still do while keeping a safe distance from other humans during the Covid-19 virus outbreak is to go outside for a walk. It’s a great boost to your immune system, and contributes to an overall feeling of well-being. If you go for a walk in a natural area, it’s especially beneficial.
Swan Creek, Rockhopper Trail, West Amwell Twp. NJ
Life goes on for the other species in the world while we humans are focused on the virus. Here are some animals and plants you might see if you go for a walk in my neighborhood in the mid-Atlantic United States.
Every morning now I hear Wrens, Cardinals, Titmice and other birds singing. For several weeks Carolina Wren couples have been out shopping for real estate, looking for a good location to build a nest for the upcoming season. These birds nest in cavities, usually from three to six feet off the ground. A stump with a pre-made cavity like the one that the couple in the photos below is inspecting looks like very a very desirable property.
Carolina Wrens investigating a nesting site.
Carolina Wren investigating a fallen log with a natural cavity as a possible nesting site.
Carolina Wren standing watch at a possible nesting site.
While walking in the woods, you might hear a chorus of male wood frogs calling from a vernal pool, or see a mass of eggs that resulted from successful wood frog mating.
Male Wood Frogs
Wood Frog
Wood Frog egg mass
When temperatures are warm, bees and some butterflies may be active. Even when spring temperatures are cooler, flies are active.
Greenbottle Fly (Lucilia sericata). This adult fly can be an effective pollinator, while its larvae are crime scene investigators’ friends, consuming dead rotting flesh or other decaying matter, a task that never goes out of season. The presence of these insects’ larvae can help determine time of death of a corpse.
Fly, unidentified.
Winter was unusually warm where I live in New Jersey. As a result, the spring bloom season is about 3-4 weeks earlier than normal. (This is a bit alarming, but since we have enough to worry about right now, I’m just going to focus on enjoying it.) With each passing day, more and more buds break and flowers bloom.
Leatherwood (Dirca palustris) is an early blooming shrub whose flower buds come with their own ‘fur’ coat, just in case the temperatures take a tumble. If the temperatures are warm, a lovely fragrance that even humans can detect wafts many feet away from the flowers. When the air temperature is cooler, you can still catch the fragrance if you bring your nose right up to a flower and sniff.
Leatherwood (Dirca palustris). Bud scales act as a furry hood that protect the flowers.
The sunburst-like flowers of Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) are blooming, beckoning pollinators to visit, and promising fruit for birds in the fall.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) blossom, male. Spicebush have male and female flowers on separate plants.
Hepatica, like Leatherwood, wears fur for warmth and to deter herbivores. Depending on where you live, two species are possible, Round-lobed Hepatica (Anemone americana syn: Hepatica nobilis obtusa, Hepatica americana) and Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba syn: Hepatica nobilis acuta, Hepatica acutiloba).
Hepatica in bloom
The earliest of the Trilliums to blossom, Snow Trillium (Trillium nivale), has entered its short bloom season. As you might guess, it is named for the fact that its flowers may open when snow is still present. The Latin name nivale means ‘snow white, or growing near snow’.
Snow Trillium (Trillium nivale)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) has opened its blossoms, hoping for insect visitors to help it with cross-pollination, but if all else fails it will self-pollinate.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
The lovely Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is just starting to bloom, luring Bumble Bees to be their pollination facillitators. This plant’s delicate appearance gives no hint of its narcotic-packed foliage, a reliable deterrent to herbivores that would otherwise be tempted to eat it.
Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
The first Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers are open, the beginning of several weeks of a floral display from this species. There are specialist bees that depend on the pollen of this species as the only food that their larvae can digest. In return, these bees are very efficient and reliable pollination partners for Spring Beauty.
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica), with Toadshade (Trillium sessile) behind it, in bud
So many other species are waiting in the wings to be the next to bloom, including Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Everything changes so quickly in spring, from one day to the next and from morning until afternoon. Visit a natural area often so that you don’t miss anything. And to give your immune system a boost. You might even learn something! Just avoid people.
The author, out for a walk in the woods.
Related Posts
Dutchman’s Breeches and Squirrel Corn
Photo Locations
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
Goat Hill Overlook, New Jersey
Rockhopper, New Jersey
Resources
National Wildlife Federation Educational Resources
US Forest Service Plant of the Week, Snow Trillium
Rhoads, Ann Fowler; Block, Timothy A. The Plants of Pennsylvania. 2007
Stearn, William T. Stearn’s Dictionary of Plant Names. 1996
The Natural Web 
Excellent snaps👍
Thanks!
Most welcome
Hi Mary Anne, perhaps you can help me. I am trying to identify this flower I photographed a few years ago. I think it’s rue anemone but I’m confident I got it wrong.
https://islandinthenet.com/macro-moments-challenge-36-bokeh/
Hi Kurt, It’s helpful to see the leaves just to be sure, but this does look like Rue Anemone to me.
Beautiful – thanks for sharing some spring cheer Mary 🔆🌾
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Lovely…
Thank you!
Dutchmans Breeches grew all over the place in the forest by my house when I was a kid. Always loved them, because when they started popping up I knew spring was coming 🙂 Thanks for sharing such nice pictures!
I’m glad this prompted a happy childhood memory!
Love this, Mary Anne! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it, Debby!
Keep on Walking!
Absolutely! Just got back from a walk.
Much needed boost just looking at these lovely photos . Thank You Mary Ann!! Always look forward to the Natural Web!
I’m glad you enjoyed the pics. Thanks, Pam!
Beautiful photos. I especially enjoyed the great captures of that little wren. They move around quickly and I have not had much success in getting photos. Thank you for sharing yours.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Thank you for taking us on a nature walk this morning. It’s pouring rain here in Northern California today, so I don’t if I’ll get to for my usual walk in nature. I enjoyed experiencing spring in another part of the country.
Well, rain is good, too! We can share what we have, rain or shine, with each other.
Many thanks, Mary Anne, for the beautiful photos. We are so glad we took your advice to plant our spice bush. The buds are tiny but already attracting the birds and the bees.
Nature right in your own back yard!
It rained yesterday. The trails may be soggy and slippery. But I may head into the Sourland nature preserve anyway. I want to social distance myself from all media, especially social media.
Good plan! Just wear good boots.
Yes. It was sloshy along the trail in the Sourland Nature Preserve (East Mountain Road). I didn’t find as many plant specimens as you but I wasn’t in the mood for bushwacking. Perhaps it’s too early for Rue Anemone but I found no hepatica. After 90 minutes walking around I found one bloodroot specimen.
I saw some Bloodroot and Spring Beauty at Alexauken Wildlife Management Area today, but they are just starting. We have a lot more of spring to look forward to!
💗
Beautiful pictures! A lovely read. Thanks!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Mary Anne, for that much needed dose of early spring!
Spring is out there waiting for us!
Very much appreciated.
Nature always helps!