We just got back from Whitefish Point. Where ever we are at this time of year it’s when we end up finding a lot of caterpillars. I’m not saying that we didn’t find a lot during the summer, but there are more now as many species are in their final instar (molts) and are gettingContinue reading “It’s caterpillar season”
Author Archives: makielb
A busy three weeks
We’ve been on the move more or less since late August, We spent a week at Whitefish Point, then went to visit Martin and Catherine in Douglas and give a talk on the Yukon to the Holland Audubon Society. After a few days in Ann Arbor we had to get back to Whitefish Point sinceContinue reading “A busy three weeks”
The nature of the world
I’m sitting here at Whitefish Point watching the morning light as the sun is rising. It’s warmer that the past few days. Yesterday we saw a few Black-throated Green Warblers and a lot of Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers, but otherwise migration has been somewhat slow. As a result I have been thinking about other things. TheContinue reading “The nature of the world”
Whitefish Point – late August
As I am sitting here writing the morning temperature is 41F, but is quite still, so with a cup of coffee in hand it is quite comfortable. The past few days the wind has been out of the north, sometimes howling, yet bird migration has been rather minimal. Waves crashing on shore, which surprisingly hasContinue reading “Whitefish Point – late August”
MAGA world artistic protest
While walking to Aldi’s the other morning we saw an array of protest signs tacked up high on poles. Here they are. These were produced by ART (Artists Resisting Trump). Personally, I would have given RFK, Jr his own pole. That’s all for today. More later…
Cicadas and figs
Dog-day cicadas are in prime sound right now. We have been finding cicada exuviae all over Ann Arbor. This cicada shed is on a fig leaf in our garden. The two figs in the garden showing some of the figs. So why didn’t my figs produce fruit before this year? I have three ideas –Continue reading “Cicadas and figs”
The hackberry ecosystem
Northern hackberry is an interesting tree. We have found them all over Ann Arbor. Over the years we often found nipple galls, caused by Pachyscylla larvae. But the trees also are home to several species of lichens as well. Here are some Pachyscylla galls on hackberry leaves. But this tree had a series of surprisesContinue reading “The hackberry ecosystem”
A Dirty Job
Continuing on my to re-read the Christopher Moore books in my library I ventured into two that take place in San Francisco. A Dirty Job, starts with the birth of Charlie’s daughter Sophie, the death of his wife, meeting a Death Merchant, and learning about soul vessels – all in the first few pages ofContinue reading “A Dirty Job”
Mantis humor to start the week
Oops, tough way to start a relationship. The deadly mantis kiss cam. Safe sex for mantises More sometime later…
Some book reviews
I am working my way through a bunch of old Christopher Moore books. Recently I’ve re-red all of the books that take place in Pine Cove. Practical Demonkeeping is the first book that takes place in Pine Cove, California. The story involves a demon obviously, but also a djinn (genie). The rather humorous story, althoughContinue reading “Some book reviews”
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