Date: 3/27/26 5:02 am From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Re: more about coltsfoot
Yes, as we spied the blooming coltsfoot, we remarked that it is not native.
And, it is still one of the first plants to flower, offering a little
spring joy in these unsettling times.
Shelley Page
*she/they/ki*
313-550-1437
261 Coddington Road Apt. B
Ithaca, New York 14850
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only
lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the
Sower
On Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 7:45 AM Patricia A. Curran <pc21...> wrote:
> 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.
>
> https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/tussilago/farfara/ >
> Pat Curran
> ------------------------------
> *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*
>
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/261+Coddington+Road+Apt.+B+%0D%0A+Ithaca,+New+York+14850?entry=gmail&source=g> >
> 313-550-1437
> 261 Coddington Road Apt. B
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/261+Coddington+Road+Apt.+B+%0D%0A+Ithaca,+New+York+14850?entry=gmail&source=g> > Ithaca, New York 14850
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/261+Coddington+Road+Apt.+B+%0D%0A+Ithaca,+New+York+14850?entry=gmail&source=g> >
> https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 > "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only
> lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the
> Sower
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