Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

  • The Wanderer

    A Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens. Also known as the Globe Skimmer or Globe Wanderer, and one of two “rain pool gliders.” Considered the most-widespread dragonfly in the world, this species also has one of the longest multi-generational migrations in the insect world. “Basically a tropical species” says Paulson; individuals may migrate up to four thousand…

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  • Sidewalks of New York

    Just some things I’ver seen on the sidewalk recently. This Reddish-brown Stag Beetle wasn’t quite dead. This roach was definitely dead. But what kind of roach? This is not the usual house (German, American, etc.) species. Pigeon Tremex Horntail. I’ve never seen one in Brooklyn before. (And I’ve only seen one once before, in Texas.)…

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  • Wasps Cicadas Birds

    Looks innocent enough. And, really, it is. These clumps of dirt? Wasp nests.I counted 26 in this patch. Cicada-killer Wasps. As I like to say, they’re not going to bother you much if you’re not a cicada. Sure, the boys can get territorial, but don’t they always? Check out this one eyeballing this nesting field……

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  • More Butterflies

    Rare to see an Eastern Tailed-blue open like this. Male Monarch with bent wing. Very origami, but still eating. Quite a year for skippers. Spicebush Swallowtail with close-up field mark: the Federation of Planets blue-ish wedge between bottom two and the third inner orange spots. Compare with: The orange boulder wall of the Black Swallowtail.…

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  • Two Days Apart

    Peeling Puffball Lycoperdon marginatum.

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  • Monarchy

    More Monarch eggs! On common milkweed, in a couple of different spots in Green-Wood and Bush Terminal Park. I’ve yet to spot a caterpillar, but this poop is suggestive.

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  • Patterns

    And colors:

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  • Northern Mockingbird

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  • Moth O’clock

    A White-speck Moth landed on my thigh, took to my palm, walked around to my arm, and then was coaxed onto a tree. Raspberry Pyrausta Moth, stirred up as I walked by. Dogwood Borer Moth. Just sitting there.

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  • Bees

    We’ve had a lot of wasps on here recently, so how about a sampling of bees now? Great Northern and Brown-belted bumblebees. One of the leaf-cutters. Megachile genus bees carry pollen on their abdomen. Eight-toothed Cuckoo Leaf-cutter. Agapostemon genus. Confusing Furrow Bee. Maybe. Two-spotted Longhorn. Is this a drop of water or nectar? Either way,…

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