Moon Craters
I took this shot of the Moon early Saturday night. It is not quite full yet, but with its current phase and a nice spot low on the horizon it provided a great view of many of its notable and named craters. I think it’s awesome that a camera in a backyard can take a photo of the Moon and show how rugged its surface is. As Galileo first discovered it is certainly not a perfect sphere. It was the first of many future 2016 nights that forced you outdoors to enjoy the temperate and inviting evening air. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreSnake Caterpillar?
While transferring photographs from my recent Panama trip onto my computer, another quick pick jumped out at me. This large caterpillar was found by Dave Huth on our first night in Cocobolo Nature Reserve and the longer I watched it, the more its resemblance to a snake blew me away. The indication of scales in just the right places, spots suggesting nostrils, even the white ‘catchlight’ in its fake eyes…and it moves in just the right ways too! I know my Central American snakes pretty well, but even a cursory glance at this caterpillar tripped all sorts of alarm bells in my...
Read MoreMerry Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas Eve to you and your family and friends! Be sure to spend some time outside in the unseasonable air seeing if you can spot Santa’s sleigh up there in the “winter” nighttime sky…
Read MoreSuperb Sky
There was a superb sky around the moon after sunset one night last week, though only for a few minutes. It was a case of the atmosphere looking better through the camera lens and polarizer with the latter enabling the former to see what we could not with our eyes. I thought the view looked otherworldly to say the least. I guarantee that I was on Earth, but it felt like another planet. It helps to remind us how much is truly going on around us in nature and the atmosphere, all of it impacting the life of thousands upon thousands of species that we must work to keep protecting…including...
Read MoreSee a Saw-whet?
Maybe we will start to feel a little more seasonable with some cooler air working in now. The Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) will keep on working in as well, moving south and giving you that real autumn feel if you are lucky enough to hear or spot one like in this great photo by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser.
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