Samuel Latham Mitchill was a jack of all trades.

A month ago I asked where three shorebirds were that had not been seen for a few years: buff-breasted, Baird’s and upland sandpipers. This week the buff-breasteds (a shorebird that prefers upland short grass areas) showed up.

Tonight's moon is one day short of first quarter but it is also small.

Fortunately, Hurricane Erin stayed out to sea. The power of that storm — even when it is far away — is amazing, especially since it combined with a northeaster storm that arrived from the west and brought us some much-needed rain.

To the trained eye, it was crystal clear that this was something different. That trained eye belonged to a scientist that studies jellyfish. Dr. Keith Bayha took note of an otherwise common jellyfish called a sea nettle, and observed that it was a bit different than the ones he usually came into contact with.

Seeing earth shine on the setting crescent moon is is especially tough.