Usually, this time of year, my lawn mower takes a well-deserved sabbatical, resting quietly in our garden shed for a few weeks, waiting for the heat to go away and cool autumn air to bring the grass back to life. But not this year. I started mowing in March and I haven’t missed a week since. It’s the perfect storm. Lots of rain and then lots of sun to draw the grass out its hidey hole. To make … [Read more...]

While we were at Ferry Creek off the Piankatank River, I saw a pair of ospreys soaring over the water, periodically diving down to scoop up baitfish for their young. There was a lot of bait in the water where we were because it’s back in a creek. But in a good part of the Chesapeake Bay, bait is scarce. That’s because a Canadian firm, Omega Protein, is scooping up millions of pounds of menhaden, … [Read more...]

Robin Babies – Leave Them Alone Our neighbors came by yesterday. The mom and her boys had found a baby robin in their yard, seemingly alone and possibly injured. Since they considered me something of a bird expert (which I’m not), they wanted to know what to do. My simple advice. “Leave it alone.” Robin chicks come out of the nest almost helpless. It would be nice if the Mama Robin would … [Read more...]

Save the whales! And save the turtles, too. Spring has sprung, and so too have the turtles from their long winter’s nap. They can be seen piled up basking on logs and on the banks of your local ponds and waterways. Unfortunately, they can also be seen crossing roads as they seek out suitable nesting sites. Although their shells provide formidable protection against predators such as raccoons … [Read more...]

Looks like no more tuna fishing from Jennette’s Pier. An organization called NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) called a halt to any form of tuna fishing from the pier or shore because the bluefin recreational quota had been reached in federal waters. But Jennette’s Pier and the shoreline of Nags Head aren’t in federal waters, so the NOAA had no jurisdiction, but when does that … [Read more...]

“Made in the shade” was an expression from the 1950’s when the “cool cats” were cruising the drive-ins, combing their ducktails, and listening to rock and roll on the juke box. You still hear this phrase from time to time, but usually from those 50 and older. Made in the shade is also a gardening term, but mostly it’s “not made in the shade.” Very little seems to grow in shady areas, which is … [Read more...]

We were at our favorite getaway cottage just off the Piankatank River when Nancy saw, “A big bird” “It keeps flying over,” she said. I went to inspect, and it was a bald eagle, and he flew to a tree not 20 feet from our porch. I have seen numerous eagles in my time, often on fishing trips to rivers or lakes, but I had never been this close to such a magnificent raptor. They are big, about … [Read more...]

I had just dumped 2 ½ pounds of Aldi’s ground beef from the tray into the frying pan. I started to toss the tray in the trash, but I just couldn’t. The tray was as solid as any piece of Tupperware, and it still had many uses. So, I washed it and later used it as a container for a Pea Salad I was making for the family I cook for. They could toss it if they wished, but at least I had salvaged a … [Read more...]

Like the Lorax, I speak for the trees, and this Lorax says don’t waste your Christmas tree – recycle it! Christmas is over. It’s time to un-decorate the tree, drag it out to the curb and let the trash guys do their thing. But not so fast! A Christmas tree has many uses after the holiday season is over. For one, it makes ideal cover for small birds as they face the coming winter. On a … [Read more...]

(Looks like a good crop of acorns this fall) The success of hunters often depends on the mast crop. When things are scarce in the woods, deer must be on the move to feed, where they become susceptible to 30:06 cartridges. When they are plenty of nuts on the forest floor, deer can eat and bed down without a lot of travel and it’s tougher for hunters. Katie Martin of the DWR says that all … [Read more...]