Meadowhawks abound
How many meadowhawks are still massing in or migrating through your yard? I spotted this one trying to make itself scarce while hunting for a meal earlier. The dragonflies will not like this cold snap in the north! They too know the calendar still says summer and hope it will never end.
Read MoreMantis above Pachysandra
Here’s a Chinese Mantis hanging out while looking for a snack above a Pachysandra species a few hours ago on this cool September morning. The European Mantis is actually the official state insect of Connecticut despite the fact it is a non-native species. This is supposedly because, “mantis are beneficial insects for farmers and are therefore symbolic reminders of the importance of the natural environment to human and biological survival” according to the CT DEEP website. That is a confounding statement/explanation to me. Maybe we could try something else – the...
Read MoreBoothe Park Hawk Watch 9/12 – 182 migrant raptors
We had a decent day at the Boothe Park Hawk Watch in Stratford, Connecticut yesterday, considering the deep blue sky in control, as we tallied 182 migrant raptors filling in the 9:30-4:30 time frame. Having no clouds in the sky makes it very difficult to spot hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures and so forth flying at altitudes in the thousands of feet. Light clouds, especially cirrus, provide a helpful backdrop to view them on without obscuring any or dumping precipitation which would stop the birds from moving south. In essence many migrants likely flew by right over our heads that we could...
Read MoreFawn Darner (Boyeria vinosa)
Around this time last year we saw hundreds and hundreds of Fawn Darners (Boyeria vinosa) in the waterways of Allegheny National Forest. Watching them inquisitively flying around you in such numbers is very cool.
Read MoreClamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa)
Up close and personal, looking this female Clamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa) in the eyes…
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