Way too soon!

[brewmaster15]

Winter in CT Feb 8th 2024.. temp 42

Walking up my deck stairs I saw a rather unusual sight.. a hornet..

20240208_120321.jpg

Im sorry but this little lady is about 3 months too soon. Shes even chewing on the wood to make pulp to build her nest.

Al

[LizStreithorst]

They're nasty aggressive things. I hate them more than I hate horse flys and deer flys. They sure make a super cool nest, though.

[Discus Fever]

I hate seeing them as well but I am not complaining about the warmer temperatures.

[brewmaster15]

I hate seeing them as well but I am not complaining about the warmer temperatures.

Problem is Scott warmer weather when it Should be colder throws off biological clocks of everything from bees to birds toTrees. Birds start nesting now and the nests will fail and theres a good likihoods some adult birds will die in the process as they wont have the reserves of fat or adequate food. Trees start putting out flowers too soon and then theres a freeze it can cause a complete loss of fruit that year for us...


I hate the cold... and winter is my least favorite season.. but I really wish it was colder here in CT this winter...

[LizStreithorst]

I'm with you on that, Al. I like the warm, but it ain't right this time of year. Last year was a total mess, too due to a late severe deep freeze too soon, followed by the longest drought I have ever experienced here. We lost many mature trees. My holly trees didn't produce the first berry for my beloved Cedar Wax Wings, and I didn't get the first blueberry on my productive shrubs. I dont know if I should even bother trying to plant a vegetable garden this year.

[Second Hand Pat]

When I first saw your photo Al, global warming was my first thought and you are so right about the timing of birds and trees etc, well affects everything. I worry about the world we are leaving our children.
Pat

[brewmaster15]

The trend of seeing things out and about before they should be continues. At a walk today at a park near me...


Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Watching me, watching Him by Al Sabetta, on Flickr
This little one really should be in its burrow but the warm weather here this Feb has brought it out. I have seen many at my bird feeder as well.

and even saw a turtle out.
IMGP0890 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Feb in CT should not be warm enough to wake the Turtles. Definitely was not expecting to see a turtle on todays walk. Red eared Sliders are non-native to CT..someone probably let a pet turtle go. Though not native these are able to survive in CT. Often mixing in with Eastern Painted Turtles.

[LizStreithorst]

It has been in the mid 70's for the past few days. I don't have any pictures to show, but I hear the spring nesting birds making love calls as the sun comes up in the morning. I'm sitting hear waiting for the other shoe to drop. Who knows when our temps drop to the teens, but I'm afraid it will be coming.

[brewmaster15]

Another creature was out in Full force as well. Its very very rare to see them playing in a park in Feb in CT

Winter Jamming by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Funniest thing when you are hiking around in the woods and there is not a soul around, it dead quiet and then through the trees you hear Primal Drums beating away.

[brewmaster15]

Finally a good snow storm on the way.. got 8-12" inches coming tomorrow. Thank god! I thought I was going to have to break out the lawn mower this week.