April Sky
It is such an underrated thrill to have more frequently clear, dynamic and vivid cirrus skies instead of stratus this and that with inclement, blah-type weather. Be sure to always look up – you may end up seeing some of our atmosphere’s beauty, not to mention all sorts of birds, butterflies, dragonflies flying by and more that you may never have noticed in front of you. They are all about to arrive and emerge. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreBlue sky action
Please be sure to go outside and take in some of this blue sky action today. It’s healthy, wondrous and a perfect celebration for the first day of fall.
Read MoreSundog
I have always called these sundogs but I know they can have a variety of names. This is a very bright spot of light that can pop up along the sun. In my experience this happens often during pleasant, cool weather associated with high pressure and cirrus clouds. The light reflects off ice crystals in the atmosphere making it appear red closer to the sun and blue further away as seen here. The sky is always offering us something to examine. In this case it looked very much like something reentering the atmosphere! At least in my imagination…
Read MoreHigh and far migrant raptors
Can you identify the migrants in the center of the cirrus? Take a look…a hard look…a really deep look…and you’ll find there are four black dots. This is not dust on your screen. In the very middle of this photo there is one bird to the upper right, two close together just under it to the left, and one further to the lower left. Those are Bald Eagles…yes, massive Bald Eagles. Perspective is everything. And hawk watching is not easy – imagine trying to find smaller birds like Sharp-shinned Hawks at that height!
Read MoreFall hawk watching is on!
Labor Day and the beginning of September are often seen as the beginning of the fall season despite the fact the autumnal equinox is not until weeks later (September 23 this year). However, many of our birds agree with this assessment as well. You can find migrant passerines beginning to disperse and even some moving south in July. Shorebirds can be found on the way to wintering quarters in terrific numbers in “fall” migration in the middle of what we think of as a hot summer day. Raptors including many species of hawks, accipiters, falcons, eagles, vultures and more start to...
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