Nature & Science
Sunrise Sunset
Fri., March 30 6:28 7:04
Sat., March 31 6:26 7:05
Sun., April 1 6:25 7:06
Mon., April 2 6:23 7:07
Tues., April 3 6:21 7:08
Wed., April 4 6:20 7:09
Thurs., April 5 6:18 7:10
Fri., April 6 6:16 7:12
Planets
The two brightest planets in our western sky, Venus and Jupiter are parting company. Venus is high in the western sky, while Jupiter is well below. Two weeks ago, the two planets were close neighbors.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
March 23 64 52 .00
March 24 67 47 .00
March 25 56 43 .01
March 26 52 40 .03
March 27 55 29 .00
March 28 46 27 .00
March 29 53 43 .20
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 51º F.
Sunrise Sunset
Fri., March 23 6:40 6:56
Sat., March 24 6:38 6:57
Sun., March 25 6:37 6:58
Mon., March 26 6:35 7:00
Tues., March 27 6:33 7:01
Wed., March 28 6:32 7:02
Thurs., March 29 6:30 7:03
Fri., March 30 6:28 7:04
Moon and Planets
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
March 16 49 37 .00
March 17 44 40 .04
March 18 52 33 Trace
March 19 57 42 .00
March 20 70 41 .00
March 21 68 49 Trace
March 22 75 50 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 53º F.
We all have a cross to bear, though some of us hide ours better than others.
Pinkletinks wear theirs on their backs. The spring peepers, one of the Island’s favorite harbingers of spring, can be identified by the dark cross on their backs. Their scientific name, Hyla crucifer, translates into “one that bears a cross.” X really does marks the spot to identify this favorite frog.
Woodcock Dance
Of all the harbingers of spring the mating dance of the woodcock is, shall we say, the most explosive. The woodcock dudes, doing their full-on female strut, put a summer night at the Lampost to shame.
For starters, check out some of their aliases: bog suckers, mud bats or timberdoodles.
But names are nothing compared to the aerial display which ends with daredevil plummet to earth, all in the name of love.
Check out the show tonight, March 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.