Gossamer Tapestry

Reflections on conservation, butterflies, and ecology in the nation's heartland

Friday, August 22, 2008

Skywatch Friday - Martha's Vineyard


Herring gull on the navigational equipment.
Ferry from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard



Greetings from Martha’s Vineyard. The trip to New England is going splendidly. On Monday, Leon and I visited New Hampshire. We drove up to the southern White Mountains on a brilliantly sunny day. I was surprised at the paucity of insect life, but the views were amazing. The high point of the day was stopping in to meet Will and Fritz and see their new house. The house is spectacular. Will and Fritz are both really grat guys. We had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant, and conversation that spanned a diverse array of topics. It was one of those evenings that end too soon.


Will and Fritz' place


Me and Will

On Wednesday we joined David, my BIL, and drove down to Cape Cod to catch the ferry boat to Martha’s Vineyard. As we entered the Cape, we noticed that the ends of the branches of the oak trees were all dead. It’s cicada damage. I did not realize that this was the emergence year for the 17-year cicadas in this part of the world. I’m glad to see them, some of the web sites that I was checking out during last year’s Chicago emergence said that the southeast Massachusetts population was extinct. Not hardly. The damage was far more extensive than anything I saw in Illinois. Fortunately, all but the youngest trees will recover from the damage. Unfortunately, I failed to take a photo (dumb move).


Woods Hole


Vineyard Haven

We have been staying in a cottage in Chilmark with the Chilmark Girl, the BIL, and the nephew. The cottage sits in a big field wurrounded by oak/pine scrub. It’s very beautiful. Thursday was the nephew’s 13th birthday. I gave him a black light. We were all very dissapointed in how little insect life came to the light.


Scallops in lemon pesto

Salmon with mascarpone and capers.
Chilmark Girl has outdone herself.

The weather has been gorgeous- clear and mild, more like September than August. The nights have actually been chilly. We’ve been eating extremely well. Chilmark Girl iis an awesome cook. I’ve found some interesting insect life in the dunes just up the street- hairy necked tiger beetles and seaside grasshoppers. I haven’t managed to get decent pictures yet, but there will be ample opportunities today when we go four wheeling to Cape Poge.


The beach with cool insects.
Pictures (I hope) later.

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18 Comments:

At 11:07, Anonymous Anonymous said...

great post looks like it was fun.

 
At 11:13, Blogger DeniseinVA said...

Great photos, your SkyWatch and also the insect ones, all the photos of course are super. I was in the Natural History Museum in DC a couple of months back and they have a wonderful exhibit of insects and a new one on butterflies, which I am hoping to check out this weekend. Enjoyed your blog very much.

 
At 11:15, Anonymous Anonymous said...

All the photos are just great! And great shot for the SWF:) Have a nice weekend!

 
At 13:36, Blogger Dave Coulter said...

Nice Skywatch...Looks like you're having a great trip!

 
At 13:53, Blogger Jane Hards Photography said...

Ineresting post and great set of images, but the bord aloft did it for me.

 
At 15:53, Blogger Kelly said...

You have a great blog, I would have missed the herring gull on the first photo if you hadn't have commented on it! Guess I need to pay closer attention! You guys have a wonderful life!! Looks like there's a lot of fun and interesting site-seeing going on...The dinner table looked quite appetizing too...Yumm, Yummm... Great SWF photos!!!

 
At 16:01, Blogger Unknown said...

Great set of photos!

 
At 18:47, Blogger Lemuel said...

Beautiful photos of scenery and food. I love those picturesque NE coves!

 
At 20:59, Blogger Jim Lemire said...

Just FYI, if anyone is interested, that schooner in the Wood's Hole photo is Sea Education Association's SSV Corwith Cramer. I sailed on her last summer.

 
At 10:40, Blogger robin andrea said...

Looks like you're having a grand time. I love those chilly nights and warm days. Sounds like an early fall is on its way.

 
At 18:55, Blogger Texas Travelers said...

Nice post. Looking forward to the insects later.

Having a good time are we?

When I saw the first photo, I thought the gull was a wind/weather vane. (grin)

All that food makes me hungry. Now I have to go eat.

I just posted an unknown fruit fly. Maybe you can help.


Come visit our unknown, Click here.

Troy and Martha

 
At 21:49, Blogger TR Ryan said...

Oh those blue skies! I have not seen that color of blue in six weeks. Your photos make me ever-so-ready to come home.

 
At 22:26, Anonymous Anonymous said...

GREAT SKY!!! Great set of images here!!!


I have one query ...
Any idea when the migrating monarchs visit Chicago this year???

 
At 03:01, Blogger Arija said...

Great shots, just as well you had scallops not sea gull for dinner.
Sounds like a good trp.

 
At 09:49, Blogger Doug Taron said...

Tommy V- Thanks. It was fun.

Denise- I hope that you got to see the butterfly exhibit. They are a great bunch of folks, and it's a nice exhibit.

randi, Dave, and Babooshka- Thanks. As soon as I saw the bird there, I thought of Skywatch.

Kelly- Thanks, and welcome to the Tapestry. It was a fun trip.

John and Lem- Thanks

Jim L.- Thanks for the info. When I was in Woods Hole, I was thinking of my marine bio blogger friends (mainly you, Kevin Z, and Rick M.). I was wondering which among you might have spent time there.

Robin- We had amazingly good weather. And yes, it was a bit autumnal.

Troy and Martha - Yep, I had a wonderful time. I'm glad that yoou managed to get your fly ID'ed. I'm no good with the diptera.

JeFf &NoVa- Thanks. Welcome to the Tapestry.

t.r.- Safe travels back home. I've been enjoying your China posts.

jyoti- Thanks. The wave of monarch migration should begin passing through sometime late this week.

arija - We were commenting on the fact that nobody anywhere seems to eat gull, even though they are a really abundant source of protein. Welcome to the Tapestry.

 
At 08:35, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always enjoy reading about your travels, Doug.

Was the mascarpone home-made?

 
At 17:03, Blogger Kathie Brown said...

Wow, the food looks delicious. The beach looks inviting. I love that last shot with that arc of cobalt blue between the sandy beach and the azure sky. Nicely done. Are you having too much fun? I hope you got some of those insect shots you wanted.

 
At 21:57, Blogger Doug Taron said...

TF- No, tha mascarpone was store boughten. I've never made it myself, but it should be easy. I even have the right culture.

Kathie - Tis was definitely a fun vacation. We didn't want to come home.

 

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