Date: 3/27/26 4:46 am From: Patricia A. Curran <pc21...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Re: more about coltsfoot
Hi all,
Coltsfoot flowers resemble dandelions, but bloom a little earlier, before the leaves expand to the large size that resemble the feet of colts.
Like dandelion, this is an invasive weed in North America. Unlike dandelion, it does seem to prefer roadsides. Also unlike dandelion, instead of a taproot, it grows and expands sideways with a large creeping rootstock.
Like dandelion, the white fluffy seedheads blow all over, and seedlings grow well in many places.
Yes, it's pretty and blooms early so it provides food for early pollinators, but it's still an invasive plant not to be encouraged.
Pat Curran
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From: <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> on behalf of Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...>
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2026 8:04 PM
To: <cayugabirds-L...> <cayugabirds-L...>
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] March 26 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Next Week Plans
Ah, spring! The Thursday Birding Meetup birders reveled in the sunny warmth of this early spring morning at Dryden Lake today. It felt great to bird without handwarmers, ski pants, snow boots and balaclavas. Eighteen of us gathered on the platforms and along the lakeside trail to see 30 species, a definite uptick in number reflecting the migration season starting out (thanks for ebird, Tracy McLellan<https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/100000604080233/?__cft__[0]=AZYnf3tamr20ZZiqPwEBJ8m_0upMmnwto3Na_ib_klms-x4Yi66o43N9eSTe_b__KLdnubGoxgfHPEXkLP8SVwxCbu09SrQ6fKieNFEVxZSnEiZiQX7HiTmGXBjcikC64Kui3GvVvQXycgf123WV9rjMEqAQIzVP3_V5jgSSuJ7E1Io9m2iblTCLd5kRLCBnIvNPbQcsyTibpH2YKohUPUvx&__tn__=-]K-R>). We were treated to a veritable buffet of ducks and mergansers with 9 species represented including a raft of 22 American Wigeons, along with five Horned Grebes popping up and down. Looking across the lake, we could clearly view a Bald Eagle sitting on its nest--yay! We loved seeing our first of year Belted Kingfisher and Eastern Phoebe. The woodland fringe along the lake was alive with woodpecker drumming and spring songs being sung by our resident woodland birds as well as the returning migrants. The first brilliant yellow coltsfoot flowers graced the side of the trail, another first of year spring treat. We lingered out in the balmy temperatures for longer than usual, soaking in the promise of the season before heading to the Corner Brew in Dryden for some breakfast and conversation. All in all, a lovely morning!
Want to join us next week? Thursday, April 2 will be our first anniversary as Cayuga Bird Club's weekly social birding group! Come out and celebrate with us by seeing some awesome birds at the lake. All birders are truly warmly welcomed! We'll be returning to Stewart Park, the site of our first Thursday Birding Meetup. Note TIME CHANGE reflecting the seasonal changes of light and bird activity: We will start at 7:00 am, a pattern we will keep through October.
Shelley Page
she/they/ki
313-550-1437
261 Coddington Road Apt. B
Ithaca, New York 14850
