I love this time of year. After the exuberance of summer and the vibrant colors of fall, I’m thankful for the days growing shorter. The nights longer. Temperatures falling. Silhouettes of bare branches against a leaden sky promising snow. All of nature winding down. Encouraging quiet. Reflection. Introspection. [more]
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)
Even as we enter September there are still plenty of beautiful butterflies on the wing like this Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) photographed yesterday. It has some wear and tear, and it is a bit faded, but the exquisite design still shines brightly on a gray day. Take a look at all the shots it allowed me to capture while nectaring on this butterfly bush. You can see there are rips on the wings with the edges have been worn away, but what is most striking to me is how those wings still reflect and change light. The colors appear to...
read moreRainforest Adventures Exhibition
Rainforest Adventures Works by Artist Jan Lutz September 9 – November 13, 2016 This fall, RTPI will feature works by artist Jan Lutz of Cambridge Springs, PA. In this unique exhibition, Jan’s rainforest theme will be depicted through original oil paintings of tropical birds, landscapes, and more. Jan is a versatile painter who enjoys painting various subject, although her current focus is landscapes. Her style may be described as tonalism, impressionism, or as a curator recently stated in a review, “philosophical realism”. She has been...
read moreLeast Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
I love the Least Flycatcher’s scientific name (Empidonax minimus) as it is so very easy to understand. The tiniest of the empidonax flycatchers has a bold eye ring, and any yellow or green you seen on the feathers of this bird was a reflection of today’s warm morning light off the surrounding foliage. This was one of many cool migrants I enjoyed early this Friday, and the kind bird posed so well for me during an otherwise frustrating photography day. I wish you a wonderful Labor Day weekend of heading outdoors to see what you can...
read moreButterfly Weed Party
Below is a photo of an absurd scene that became normal this August on any Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) that I could find – look at all those butterflies! The fiery orange flower is a native milkweed and extremely attractive to a wide variety of species looking for some nectar. We have an Orange Sulphur, Crescents, and the iconic and wonderfully matched Monarchs all feeding here. Just how many Crescents can we fit on one bloom? Take a look at this Monarch as it is showing some signs of wear and tear. This individual likely took a...
read moreLighthouse Lightning
We really are saying goodbye to the summertime now and hello again to some more dry conditions (unfortunately) in the Northeast. Stratford Point had a good run of thunderstorms for a week or so in mid-August, but even these photos show a storm that is over Long Island Sound and ended up providing a very light shower for literally a minute or two. Nevertheless, the pink explosions against the blue clouds all lit by the setting sun provided a pretty scene. I was also able to capture one of the few cloud to ground lightning strikes on the Sound...
read morePervious Pavement Installation
Pervious Pavement Installation; August 29th – September 8th Billions of gallons of contaminated storm water runoff of impervious surfaces, cause erosion problems and enter our waterways every year. RTPI is installing a test plot of an innovative 3-part system of pervious pavement, storage aggregate, and bio-remediation agents that contain, treat, and reduce storm water runoff. Our main facility will be closed during this time as we install a new art exhibition, but we are excited to reveal both beginning in the following...
read moreRoger Tory Peterson on CBS Sunday Morning
Our own Roger Tory Peterson is going to be featured on CBS Sunday Morning tomorrow during their Almanac section for his August 28th birthday. RTPI’s Exhibits & Public Programs Coordinator Jane Johnson sent CBS lots of artwork and images of Roger yesterday, and apparently they are going to be using video and audio footage they have from a story they did on him back in 1980. Be sure to tune in! And happy birthday, Roger!
read moreKeeping the World Wild Ending
Keeping the World Wild The Art of John and Suzie Seerey-Lester June 17 – August 28, 2016 Visit RTPI this week before the exhibition ends!
read moreButterfly Walk
Butterfly Walk at Stratford Point Saturday, September 10 at 10AM Stratford, Connecticut Leaders: Patrick Comins, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon Connecticut Scott Kruitbosch, Conservation & Outreach Coordinator, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History Connecticut Butterfly Association Vice President Explore Stratford Point’s 28 upland acres filled with grasslands, pollinator meadows, feed plots, and a variety of shrubs and trees for common to rare species at this beautiful coastal site. This is one of the best places...
read moreSwarthy Skipper
The Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier) is a very small and mostly nondescript butterfly. These photos are of an individual earlier this spring in full sunlight. The tiny butterfly has some wear on it and is a bit faded. Their upperwings are a darker brown with underwing a light brown or yellow with some lighter edges and white veins. You can see it here feeding on a red clover flower, and it is even smaller! These nectar sources are common for the species as they will stay low in the grass in short or cut areas only adding to their...
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