July 14: Eagle Hill Institute, Moth dump

Spent a good part of today sorting through a pile of moths from a trap that was set in a field last night. We sorted them by family and then tried to identify genus and species. By bedtime, squadrons of dead moths were lined up and labeled--immersion learning at its best.

 

Sphinx moths stare at us

over their new labels--

order from chaos.

Photo by Bryan Pfeiffer

 

Posted with Blogsy

July 13: Eagle Hill Institute, Field Work

Swinging my net

I decapitate clover

but not the butterfly

Great Spangled Fritillary (I didn't catch this one)

 

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July 12: Eagle Hill Institute, Day One

Spending a week studying butterflies and moths at Eagle Hill Institute in Steuben, Maine. The first night we stayed up late photographing moths at UV lights. Instructor Hugh McGuinness says we had over 150 species, some of them startlingly beautiful when examined up close.

 

moths at the light

each one a Rorschack test

an artwork briefly hanging

Green Arches: Anaplectoides prasina

Cherry Scallop Shell: Rheumaptera prunivorata

 

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July 11: Tadpoles

Beneath the water lilies--

fat brown tadpoles

already sprouting legs.

 

 

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July 10: Today

These satisfactions--

wood lilies blooming,

a long, good book just finished.

 

Yes, Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See was as good as everyone is saying it is. I spent the entire afternoon sitting in the sun in my green, tree-sheltered backyard finishing it, while the vireo sang on and on over my head.

 

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June 9: Seven o'clock and all's well

Cardinal's near-dusk staccato.

Jeep with the top down

blasting NPR.

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July 8: Making hay

Freshly mown hayfield--

I can't help but think

of the nesting Bobolinks.

Posted with Blogsy