More Frosty Mornings
This autumn has certainly been an interesting one as far as weather goes! Our first frost came rather late and last week we seemed to have had an “Indian Summer” with temperatures in the 60’s and even low 70’s…quite toasty for early November! While winter is still a little ways out, it will be interesting to see how El Niño continues to influence our weather patterns here in the Northeast. This week seems to be back to normal average temperatures, giving us freezing overnight lows and frosty mornings, but next week is forecasted to be warm once again. No matter...
Read MoreSnowy Owl Art
Whoa, it is COLD out there! What month is this again? It feels like we went from summer to winter almost overnight. Regardless of the extreme temperature departures on both sides of the spectrum, next month is already the time to start thinking about Snowy Owls showing up in our region. Every year some of the species irrupts south into the continental United States, but the question is always how many young successfully fledged in the breeding season and how many decide to take a journey to see us. Until then you can come and enjoy some Snowy Owls on our walls in the Art and the...
Read MoreGray Hairsteak on Grass-leaved Goldenrod
This Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) is another big fan of the Grass-leaved Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) patch, one of many of the species being seen there. We have spotted several individuals at once on multiple occasions. There can even be fights over the preferred flower. Autumn is an amazing time for butterflies! The only problem at the moment is that the patch is drying up and dying back very quickly thanks to the moderate drought. Water is life. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreHappy Fall
Happy first day of fall! The leaves may still be green but the sun is getting lower and lower, and soon it will be colder and colder. Eventually. I promise. Even if we have such a strong El Niño – the strongest ever recorded? – it will be cold once again! At least we have the beautiful autumn foliage to look forward to and even more birds visiting our yards, both those that will be passing through and others that will be coming to spend the winter with us. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreLate Gray Hairstreak
This is a fresh looking Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) for early September, likely having emerged recently. You would think it is the middle of the summer considering the extremely hot temperatures as of late. Are you seeing new or additional butterflies in the very warm conditions?
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