Tom Hals submitted a photograph of a common garter snake coiled in a tree in the Crum Woods. He said that the snake appeared to be several feet long. While garter snakes tend to be smaller, they can grow as long as five feet, so this one must have some longevity.

Louise Coffin submitted a photograph of a dreadful infestation of spotted lanternflies which she reported was “One swarm of many noted on a maple tree on Dartmouth Avenue.” If you see the flies (actually tree hoppers that can fly short distances) and/or their egg masses, try to bring yourself to smash them. Info on these invasive pests and the damage they do.

Since the last report, the highlight of my outings has been an American toad observed on the trail at the Saul Wildlife Preserve in Rose Valley. On the migratory bird front: several black-throated blue warblers, a palm warbler, a red-eyed vireo seen at the Saul Wildlife Preserve and, on the trail between the Rose Valley Swim Club, a ruby-crowed kinglet. I also observed sharp-shinned hawks in my front yard and in the Crum Woods Meadow.

Things should start to get interesting right about now. — “Mississippi,” by Bob Dylan

I was hoping to build on last week’s warbler report, but my only warbler observation this week was one American redstart in my yard. I also saw red-eyed vireos in both the Crum Woods meadow and the Saul Wildlife Preserve in Rose Valley, and the northern water snake basking in the stream bank rocks in the Saul Wildlife Preserve (photo online). Also in the Saul Wildlife Preserve, Chris Bourke saw a common garter snake on September 8.

Hey-ho, fellow nature enthusiasts, the fall warbler migration is finally upon us! Warblers are this correspondent’s favorite birding quarry. Of the roughly two dozen common Eastern United States species, only a few nest in our community. But come spring and fall, a steady stream of specimens pass through on their migratory routes.

Since the Swarthmorean was on break and did not publish last week, this week’s report covers a two-week period, which came in like summer and closed with a hint of fall in the air. And this week’s sightings, including common nighthawks, red-eyed vireos and (gasp!), a bald eagle, all evidence that fall migration is officially underway.

“If you plant it, they will come” is the theme that weaves through many of this week’s submissions. Joe-pye-weed, milkweed and coneflowers are all common native plants that attract butterflies and birds. Add some wildlife attracting-plantings to your yard, and you too could be among the citizen-scientists and naturalists to be featured in this prestigious publication!

I mentioned in last week’s column that we’ve passed the midpoint between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox, and that there would soon be evidence of fall bird migration. And while I’ve read reports of warblers migrating through Cape May already, I haven’t seen any such evidence locally. Birds often migrate South by riding cold fronts down from Canada. With cooler weather predicted for next week, keep an eye peeled for greater bird variety.

My own outings this week have proved fruitless (and fauna-less), so I’m especially pleased to have received submissions out of Rutledge and Rose Valley. Now if only some Nether Providence residents would participate. There is great habitat in Nether Providence, with Crum Creek Reservoir, the Houston Tract/Urban Field and Leiper Park, among others. Surely there are some regular walkers/observers of these areas, so please come forward!