Category Archives: Phenology

The Crocus Report

March 8, 2026Climate Change, Phenology, Plants & FungiKate St. John

Woodland crocus in a lawn on Neville Street, 7 Mar 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

8 March 2026

The woodland crocuses (Crocus tommasinianus) on Neville Street have been blooming for a couple of days but I didn’t notice until yesterday. My guess at their bloom date is Thursday 5 March.

This is not unexpected. The weather had been above 50°F for four days and yesterday topped out at 78.8°F!

During last year’s photo shoot many bees were visiting the flowers. None this year. 🙁

How does this year’s crocus bloom date compare to those in the past?

Crocus First-Bloom Dates in Pittsburgh’s East End range from late February to the first three weeks of March.

March 11, 2009
March 11, 2010
March 14, 2011
February 28, 2012 (the Hot year!)
March 18, 2013
March 22, 2014 (the Polar Vortex year. Crocuses bloomed for only one day because a deep freeze returned on March 23.)
March 18, 2015
I don’t have a crocus record but the date was probably March 7, 2016 based on temperature data, this post about coltsfoot, and feedback from Supriya in Squirrel Hill.
March 1, 2017
February 23, 2018
March 20, 2019
March 21, 2020
March 9, 2021
March 7, 2022
February 21, 2023 (an Even Hotter year)
March 1, 2024
March 4, 2025
and now March 5, 2026

This year follows the early trend but is well within the cluster. Interestingly, the dates in February are earlier each time they occur. Repeated dates are circled in green.

2025 calendar from timeanddate.com showing Crocus blooming dates in Pittsburgh’s East End, 2009-2025

Flowers are popping up all over.

Seen This Week: Spring Moving Forward

March 7, 2026Phenology, Schenley Park, Trees, Water and Shore, Weather & SkyKate St. John

Dawn will be an hour later tomorrow morning (photo by Kate St. John on 2 Mar 2026)

7 March 2026

Sunrise in Pittsburgh this morning was at 6:44am. Tomorrow it will be an hour later because we’ll turn the clocks Forward to Daylight Saving Time overnight. Sigh.

On the weather front, half the week was too wet to enjoy so I only went out when the sun was shining. Warmer at the end of the week than the beginning. On 1 March walked at Herrs Island.

Herr’s Island back channel of the Allegheny River, 1 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Way across the (finally thawed!) Allegheny River I saw a grebe-shaped water bird with a white face and chest and a black head. Even though these digiscoped photos are lousy, they confirm a horned grebe (Podiceps auritus) in non-breeding plumage.

Documentation photos of horned grebe at Allegheny River, 1 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Never abundant in Pittsburgh, most horned grebes breed in western Canada but a few stay in our area all winter if there’s open water. Here’s what they look like in a good photo by Steve Gosser.

Horned grebes, 15 Feb 2014 (photo by Steve Gosser)

Yesterday in Schenley Park we discovered that the Panther Hollow Bridge rehab project is temporarily in a VERY LOUD phase. Here are just 10 seconds of it.

Panther Hollow Bridge rehab project was VERY LOUD on 6 March 2026 (video by Kate St. John)

My guess at what’s happening: Inside the draped portion of the bridge I *think* they’re blasting off the peeling paint and rust. On the bridge deck there are two loud sucking machines that maintain negative air pressure.

Because of the noise there were almost no birds at this end of the park. We found them at the Bartlett end along with other signs of spring.

The buds look fat on this yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava).

Yellow buckeye buds in Schenley Park, 6 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) buds are already opening.

Cornelian cherry buds opening in Schenley Park, 6 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

The weather is warm today (77°F) but will return to near freezing on Wednesday night. Spring is moving forward in fits and starts.

From Peepers to Bullfrogs: Here’s Who Sings When

March 5, 2026Fish, Frogs, Reptiles, PhenologyKate St. John

Spring peeper calling in the Ozarks (photo by Justin Meissen via Wikimedia Commons)

5 March 2026

To everything there is a season. March kicks off frog singing season in Pennsylvania.

The Instagram video below shows song phenology for March through August for these frogs:

Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) a chorus frog –> listen here
Wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) quacking sound –> listen here
Boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata), not in PA –> listen here
Northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) weird sound –> listen here
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) loud trilling –> listen here
Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor), recording includes birdsong –> listen here
Green frog (Lithobates clamitans), “banjo” frog –> (70 seconds) listen here
American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) –> listen here

Spring peepers and wood frogs start the show.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Birdsong Landscapes (@birdsong.landscapes)

Next in line is the northern leopard frog with, in my view, the weirdest sound of all.

Northern leopard frog (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Last in line is the American bullfrog with a very deep voice.

Bullfrog in Westinghouse pond, 29 July 2018 (photo by Peter Bell) — Bullfrog in Westinghouse pond, Schenley Park, 29 July 2018 (photo by Peter Bell)

See and hear more in this vintage article from March 2021:

Sights and Sounds of Early Spring

Seen This Week: First Sprouts & Bird Song

February 28, 2026Phenology, Plants & Fungi, Schenley Park, VocalizationsKate St. John

Tulip leaves growing in Oakland, 25 Feb 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

28 February 2026

Yesterday in Schenley Park it was very sunny but without a spot of green. However, I found tulip sprouts in a garden (above).

Bright sunshine in Schenley Park, though not warm and not green, 27 Feb 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

It was so sunny that the rocks on the gravel trail made interesting shadows.

Bright sunshine created interesting shadows, 27 Feb 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

The early birds are already singing. Yesterday I saw and heard northern cardinals and song sparrows in Schenley Park. Here are examples of the songs you will hear this week:

Northern Cardinal:

Song Sparrow:

Bonus! Did you hear the red-winged blackbird on the song sparrow recording? I’ve only seen a handful of red-winged blackbirds this month but more are coming. Meanwhile, common grackles are back.

Common grackles, Bill Up Display (photo by Tony Morris via Flickr Creative Commons license)

Also Seen + Common There, Not Here

December 28, 2025Phenology, Water and Shore, Weather & SkyKate St. John

Winter Solstice sunrise in Pittsburgh, 21 Dec 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

28 December 2025

The painted bunting was not the only thing seen last week but it grabbed the headlines. In other news the Winter Solstice was unusually sunny (photos above and below) and I saw an Infrequent duck at Duck Hollow on Christmas Eve.

Sunny Winter Solstice day, Pittsburgh, 21 Dec 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

The common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a relatively small duck, closely related to buffleheads. The female has a chocolate brown head, a golden tip on her beak, and of course a golden eye. All three tipped me off to her identity.

Female common goldeneye at Duck Hollow, 24 Dec 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Common goldeneyes are far from abundant in the Pittsburgh area but actually common in Canada in the breeding season and at the Great Lakes and waterways in the American West in winter as shown on their North American abundance map below.

Common goldeneye year-round abundance map in North America from eBird Status and Trends

I had thought that, like buffleheads, goldeneyes were only found in North America but I saw them in Finland last summer. In fact they have a disjoint range on three continents as viewed from the North Pole: Europe, Asia and North America.

Common there, but not here.

We’re Wearing Winter Coats

November 20, 2025Deer, Phenology, SongbirdsKate St. John

White-tailed deer in its winter coat (photo by Carolyn Lehrke via Flickr Creative Commons license)

20 November 2025

Now that it’s cold we’re all wearing winter coats.

We humans make decisions every day about what layers to put on, but birds and animals changed into their winter coats a couple of months ago.

White-tailed deer have two different coats of hair during the year. The gray winter coat is comprised of longer guard hairs and a soft wooly underfur that provide insulation from the cold. This thicker winter coat is shed prior to the hot summer months. The shorter summer coat is reddish-brown and lacks the thick insulating underfur. The summer coat hairs are short and wiry.
— Maryland Dept of Natural Resources White-tailed Deer Facts

Non-migratory birds molt into fresh new feathers with added insulation in late summer. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) increase their plumage weight by 70% between August and September. Their typical summer plumage weight is 0.9 grams, winter weight is 1.5 grams, but they won’t look heavier until it’s really cold.

House sparrow in January (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

To stay warm in really cold weather birds fluff out their down to hold warm air near their skin. They look fat but it’s all air.

Female and male cardinal in winter (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

We on the other hand look puffy, feel awkward, and are weighed down by our extra clothing.

Winter hikers in Virginia State Parks (photo by VA State Parks via Flickr Creative Commons License)

Maybe it’s easier to be a bird.

Seen This Week: Yellows and Gold

November 15, 2025Phenology, Schenley Park, TreesKate St. John

Ginkgo leaf with beads of water, 14 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

15 Nov 2025

After my 11 November article about The (Pittsburgh) Ginkgo Map I kept my eye out for local ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba) but I was already too late to see them drop their leaves.

That afternoon I went back to photograph the Garetta Street trees, shown in my article from 11 November 2017.

Ginkgo trees at Jewish Association on Aging, Garetta Street as seen from JHF Drive, 11 Nov 2017 (photo by Kate St. John)

But the 11th of November was too late this year. All the leaves had fallen and the landscaping crew was sucking them into the red truck (at right, below). Oh no! I was just in time to see part of their yellow carpet.

Ginkgo trees at Jewish Association on Aging, Garetta Street as seen from JHF Drive, 11 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

On Friday I photographed the ginkgo leaf carpet at Phipps Conservatory’s lawn. Someone had picked up a bunch of leaves and made a smaller pile in the distance. I picked up one leaf beaded with water, above, and took its photo.

Carpet of ginkgo leaves at Phipps Conservatory lawn, 14 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Ginkgos weren’t the only yellow.

Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is blooming in Schenley Park. Its pale yellow flowers are fertilized at night by owlet moths that survive cold weather by hiding under leaf litter during the day. They shiver to warm up and fly at night.

Witch-hazel in bloom, Schenley Park, 14 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

The wind made waves in Panther Hollow lake on 13 November, turning the sunlight from yellow to gold.

video by Kate St. John, 13 Nov 2025

Light reflects on wavy surface of Panther Hollow Lake, video by Kate St. John, 13 Nov 2025

Seen This Week: The Last Fall Colors

November 8, 2025Phenology, Plants & Fungi, Schenley Park, TreesKate St. John

Black tupelo fruits and fall color, Schenley Park, 6 November 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

8 November 2025

Fall color faded quickly after yesterday’s gusty winds blew all the best leaves off the trees. The colors were brilliant in Schenley Park on Thursday 6 November as seen in these photos.

Fall color in Schenley Park, 6 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Fallen sweetgum leaf, Schenley Park, 6 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

We found yellow black walnut leaves at Moraine State Park on Monday 3 November. The leaves and stems felt soft because they are fuzzy.

Fall color on black walnut leaves, Moraine State Park, 3 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Yesterday Schenley Park was at “Half Leaf” — about 50% of the leaves had fallen — and the remaining leaves were not as brilliant. The colors have faded fast.

Beech trees are the last to show fading fall color, Schenley Park, 7 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Soon the only brilliant colors will be in the sky.

Fall color in the sky at sunrise, 7 Nov 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Seen This Week: Fall Color in Fruit and Leaves

November 1, 2025Phenology, Plants & Fungi, Schenley Park, TreesKate St. John

Green hawthorn fruits (probably Winter King cultivar), Frick Park, 28 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

1 November 2025

This week the brightest fall color disappeared from the landscape as rain and wind took down the reddest leaves. This showed off many colorful fruits to attract attention.

Above, a hawthorn tree at Frick Environmental Center is loaded with bright red fruit. I believe this is a cultivar of the green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) chosen for its winter hardiness.

Below, on Flagstaff Hill I found one tree that still had red leaves on Wednesday. Thursday’s rain and wind probably stripped it bare.

One red tree left on Flagstaff Hill, Schenley Park, 29 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) was so colorful that even the bud scales looked red.

Fragrant sumac leaves and buds near Phipps, 29 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Euonymus fortunei, planted for beauty in a Shadyside yard, shows off its bright orange fruits. Unfortunately this Asian vine “is highly invasive and damaging in the U.S., causing the death of trees and forest in urban areas.”

Fruits of Euonumous fortunei, Shadyside, 30 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Less colorful but still interesting, milkweed seed pods opened at Moraine State Park. This one hadn’t blown away yet.

Milkweed seed pod open and ready to go, Moraine State Park, 27 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

More changes are coming this week including FALL BACK clocks tonight.

June Blooms

June 9, 2025Phenology, Plants & Fungi, Schenley ParkKate St. John

Western goatsbeard (*Tragopogon dubius*) at SGL 117, 1 June 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

9 June 2025

While this blog has been All Peregrines All The Time for the past couple of weeks, I’ve neglected flowers and phenology. Today I’m catching up with a few June blooms.

On a visit to State Game Lands 117 (SGL 117) on 1 June we saw many flowers blooming by the gravel road. The most striking was a biennial Eurasian plant called western goatsbeard or yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius). A related species in the U.K., Tragopogon pratensis, is nicknamed Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon because it opens in the morning and closes by late afternoon. So does this one.

This deep blue flower, Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana), has a long blooming season. I saw it at Frick Park on 19 May and yesterday at Schenley.

Virginia spiderwort, Frick and Schenley, 19 May & 8 June 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Common nipplewort (Lapsana communis) is a Eurasian member of the aster family that’s become naturalized in North America. Its flowers look like hawkweed but not its leaves.

Common nipplewort, Frick Park, 7 June 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Also seen at SGL 117 on 1 June, a sometimes invasive plant called bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or “eggs and bacon.” The first name describes its leaves, the second name its flowers.

Bird’s-foot trefoil, SGL 117, 1 June 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Topping off the invasive plants in Schenley Park is this Eurasian plant, goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) or ground elder. It was blooming yesterday in heavy rain.