Today I Saw…..
Here are the first tadpoles I’ve seen this year, hanging out on a submerged oak leaf. I noticed the eggs during that warm spell we had two weeks ago and have been watching them change from dots to commas and today I saw these guys. We have a small human-made pond by our house that is a frog paradise. We put it in about fifteen years ago and on the very first day we filled it with water, a frog came and took up residence. Now it is full of frogs. Sometimes in the summer we have to close our windows to watch television because the frogs are so loud.
What did you see today?
May 7th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I’ve always loved tadpoles- they are so darn cute! I saw a Blanding’s turtle in the middle of Mountain Road in York today. With my handy camping shovel (which I carry just for turtle-removal purposes) I was able to get him off the road into a safe place, and called my friend at White Pine who keeps track of these guys. He was able to find him, measure him, and mark his shell. He said the turtle was quite large for that species.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Today I saw the inside of my office building until around 5:15.
After I got home I saw a wild, elusive, Town Councilor in it’s native habitat
Other than that, just tons of skeeters.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I saw a hummingbird this week. Has anyone seen any Baltimore orioles yet?
May 8th, 2008 at 11:09 am
A friend of mine from Wells has had an oriole in his yard since Monday.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am
No signs of orioles yet. Thanks for the reminder, as we have a few older oranges to cut up that should bring them in.
Notable for all hunters of mushrooms, fairy fiddlers, dandydils and other stuff to eat and watch outdoors is the emergence of South Berwick’s true natives (Simulium sp.).
Thinking about things outdoors, has anyone ever heard of an audio books version of Will Curtis’ essays on, “The Nature of Things?” Mr. Curtis wrote two books that I know of that are compilations of his essays produced for Vermont Public Radio back in the 80s and 90s.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
We’ve had a pair of rose breasted grosbeak return each year for many years - always showing up on Mother’s Day.
I’ll let you know if they are on time this year.
I haven’t seen any orioles yet, but I hear them.
I saw a beaver Leigh’s Mill pond yesterday.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:08 am
This year for Mother’s Day at least one Scarlet Tanager showed up in South Berwick, as well as a tiny little warbler with a black mask called a Yellowthroat.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Look… up in the sky… the chimney swifts are here!
May 14th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
The oranges did the trick. Male and female orioles at the feeder.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Today I saw two big piles of dog feces on my front lawn. The funny thing is, is that I don’t own a dog. So why should I have to pick it up, or worse, step in it by accidentally walking in my own yard??? We have been quietly picking up after the neighborhood dogs for years but enough is enough. For those of you dog owners, please pick up after your dogs or tie them up in your yard so they can fertilize your own lawn!!
June 16th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I’d be inclined to retaliate “Me, Myself and Irene” style…
June 17th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Yesterday I saw a luna moth. Always glad to see those.
It didn’t mind me coming right up to it to take it’s picture either.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Wow– where? I have never seen one. Are they only out at night?
June 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I believe they are night time critters. I think I read that they inhabit the eastern coast of the US from Florida all the way up here.
I’ve only seen one twice in my lifetime. The first time was at night. It was hovering outside my kitchen window, obviously attracted to the light. I will admit that I was shocked. I did not know what I was looking at. It definately looked like some kind of insect, but nothing like I had ever seen.
Yesterday it was about seven - seven thirtyish. Still light outside.
If there an email address for this blog? I will send a couple of photos (took them from my cell phone) if there is a place where I can send them to.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Forgot to say where! It was in my front yard on Farmgate Road.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Edward,
If you go to the main page, and select about, there is an email address there you could probably use.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I think you could send them to Molly at molly@the236diner.com.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Thanks Wendy. I will send them to that address.
Didn’t see the link on the main page, but I’m sure I just overlooked it. Thanks!
(Note: edited by Molly to add image)
Here is the Luna Moth:
another pic:
June 17th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Edward send them to the email that Wendy gave you. I will post them.
Molly
June 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Done. Hope you got them OK. Let me know if you didn’t.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
You can see Edward’s Luna Moth at http://the236diner.com/2008/05/07/today-i-saw/#comment-1855
Thanks for sending the pics Edward.
I saw one when I was a kid and was amazed. I will keep my eyes open at dusk–I would love to see one again.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Thanks Molly.
It looks even more odd when you see it from the bottom side.
The one that was at my kitchen window actually landed on the glass, so it was kind of freaky. I thought it was something out of a Stephen King story!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Edward,
That is a very cool picture.
I’ve never seen one before.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I agree Dave, it is cool to see one!
I was kind of thrilled when I came home and saw this on the lampost. The first time I saw one, I described it to a guy at work (who happens to have a degree in Entemology). He told me it was a Luna Moth.
It was very convenient of it to land on the lampost too, as it is easy to see him against the black background. I was surprised he would be so easily seen. I’m sure he would make a nice meal for a bird, or whatnot.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Wow, it’s beautiful!