All the big "showy" Silk moths have emerged in the Mid-Atlantic region about now.
But you still have to LOOK for them, typically outside well-illuminated convenience stores and service stations in isolated woodland locations...
The dramatically colored, medium-sized, Red Admiral butterflies are prone to population explosions, migrating north in great numbers.
2010 is turning out to be one of those years...
I journeyed into the Pine Barrens with some members of the Newark (New Jersey) Entomological Society Saturday (which just happened to be the hottest day of the year!)
As I've posted before, the Pine Barrens are a very special place, a sandy area of solitude in a highly urbanized state...
Spring is a time for smaller whites, sulphurs, blues, and hairstreaks. The more "showy" swallowtails and Monarchs typically come a bit later, although I've seen some reports of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails - Delaware's state butterfly - already emerging in Maryland & New York state...
The last several days of mounting temperatures and sunshine have definitely brought out critters of all types.
Delmarva's top amphibian/reptile expert, Jim White at the Delaware Nature Society, has seen or heard Spring Peepers, the New Jersey Chorus frog, the Southern Leopard frog, and the Wood frog...
Despite its financial woes (First quarter fiscal year loss ending December 31st, 2009: $297 Billion), the U.S. Postal Service still puts out some rather handsome postage stamps...
If you've tuned around the dials over the years - seeking out distant shortwave, or even A.M. (medium-wave), F.M., or T.V. signals - you're a DX'er ("D" stands for "distance", "X" stands for the unknown!)...
If you have a special fascination for any aspect of radio as a hobby (shortwave, A.M. medium-wave, F.M., and TV DX'ing; scanning; pirates; global satellite TV; Q...
At some point, toy trains and model railroads became associated with the holiday season, I guess when parents would set up tracks around the Christmas tree...
If you've read my previous columns on stamp collecting, you know I take a rather dim view of the stamp companies which offer new-issue U.S. First Day Covers by subscription, often advertising in glossy, mass-circulation, national publications like USA Weekend...
People may derisively refer to regular postal mail as "snail mail"; few people write personal letters anymore; and relatively few people request commemorative stamps when visiting the retail window at their local post office, but that hasn't stopped members of Congress from pushing particular subjects and themes on U...
Although I always welcome the spring, single-brood butterflies (Hairstreaks, Elfins, and certain skippers), early September represents, perhaps, the pinnacle of the butterfly year...
I must confess I'm not a big fan of sci-fi movies. I don't rush out for the latest installment of "Star Wars" or "Star Trek". "Starship Troopers" left me cold...
Once upon a time, 48 states typically issued EMBOSSED license plates; one state issued DEBOSSED plates (Vermont); and Delaware mostly had FLAT license plates, neither embossed nor debossed...
I joined Jim White and Sally O'Byrne Sunday for the annual northern Delaware "butterfly count" for NABA, the North American Butterfly Association.
Jim's specialty is actually herpetology: reptiles and amphibians...
After an unusually long wait, sunspots have begun to return to the solar surface.
People ranging from astronomers & physicists to amateur radio operators and DX'ers waited for the spots to reappear...
Since I worked here Friday, July 3rd, and also anchored WDEL's coverage of the Saturday night, Fourth of July fireworks from the Wilmington Riverfront, I had Monday July 6th off...
I spent Sunday in the Pennsylvania game lands north of Ricketts Glen State Park in northeast-central Pennsylvania.
I love it up there because the place just has the "feel" of upstate New York or Canada for a fraction of the driving...
I can recall some rainy "Hands Across the Brandywine" days, but Tuesday was NOT one of them!
As usual, students from Warner and Highland elementary schools turned-out for the 17th annual event, which showcases the beauty of the Brandywine and promotes enviornmental awareness...
One of my favorite ecological outings each spring: Going into the Pine Barrens in late April or early May with members of the Newark (New Jersey) Entomological Society...
