Author: Mike Dunn
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A Wasp at My Window?
Some of these resemblances are perfectly staggering – to me they are a source of constant wonder and thrilling delight. Henry Walter Bates, in letter to Charles Darwin, 1861 In one of my nightly checks of the visitors at my screens, a small wasp-like creature caught my eye. But a closer look revealed some interesting… Read more…
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Patterns on the Pages
In Nature’s infinite book of secrecy A little I can read. ~William Shakespeare I can read only a little, especially in the chapter on a new found interest, moths. They keep showing up (of course, I keep looking). I now have a routine of checking the screens before retiring for the night to see what… Read more…
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Chatham County Lines
My apologies to the local bluegrass group of almost the same name…this is a bit of an unusual post in that it doesn’t highlight some interesting natural phenomenon I have stumbled across in my wanderings. Instead, I just wanted to share something I found amazing that has come calling to the edge of the land… Read more…
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Tattered Wings
The wings came down as the only evidence that such a creature had soared. ~Henry David Thoreau, commenting on a pair of Luna Moth wings that floated down onto the ground after the moth was eaten by a bird Walking back from the garden yesterday, I spotted some evidence of a passing…the passing of one… Read more…
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Moth Majesty
There are two worlds; the world of sunshine, and the world of the dark. There are whole armies of living things , which, when we go to sleep, begin to awaken; and when we awaken, go to sleep. ~W.J. Holland It happened again the other night. When I started to close the inside door for… Read more…
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A Beautiful Bug with a Not-so-beautiful Namesake
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ~William Shakespeare I remember finding this beautiful little moth many years ago when I worked as a naturalist in state parks. When I looked it up in my field guide, I quickly discovered it was a type… Read more…
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Mushroom Motifs
The origin of mushrooms is the slime and souring juices of moist earth, or frequently the root of acorn-bearing trees; at first it is flimsier than froth, then it grows substantial like parchment, and then the mushroom is born. ~Pliny, Greek naturalist Mushrooms have mystified we humans for thousands of years. Such a strange entity… Read more…
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Moths at My Window
You can look out your window and wonder at the wholeness of nature. ~Howard Parsons It happened again. This moth-watching can be habit forming. While doing dishes the other night I noticed a couple of moths outside on the window screen above the sink. One was instantly recognizable, and a personal favorite. The other was… Read more…
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Growing Up Green
Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises. ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca Just finished a very wet weekend with a wonderful family from the Netherlands down at Pocosin Lakes and Alligator River National Wildlife refuges. Since it was raining most of Friday afternoon, I didn’t even take… Read more…
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Eye of Newt
Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork, and blind worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. ~William Shakespeare I went camping last weekend with… Read more…
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Roads End Naturalist 