Nature & Science
Early this week David Damroth was strolling Zack’s Cliffs in Aquinnah and gazed across the gulf to Noman’s Land when he saw an eruption from the water a mile and a half out. It was a double spout, a trademark of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. For the next 45 minutes he watched as at least three animals romped about the surface.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
Feb. 17 47 39 .02
Feb. 18 48 33 .00
Feb. 19 47 34 .00
Feb. 20 44 26 .00
Feb. 21 41 26 .00
Feb. 22 50 37 .24
Feb. 23 54 41 .18
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 48º F.
The crescent moon appears in our evening sky this weekend, and in the nights beyond. Tonight the moon appears underneath the bright planet Venus, and it gets even better tomorrow night when the two are closer.
There has been a good deal of talk about crows recently, so I thought I would put my oar in. There probably have been fish crows on the Island for several years, but to tell the fish crows from American crows is tough. Recently I met up with Alvaro Jaramillo, who is a bird tour operator and author of books and articles about birds in bird magazines. We were talking about tough ID problems (gulls) and I mentioned the crow problem. He said that he had written a piece recently on the subject in Bird Watcher’s Digest. I immediately dug up that issue and will do my best to summarize what Alvaro had to say, as it was the best comparison I have seen so far.
For plant lovers, the witching hour is nigh.
The wild women of yore will not be flying in on their broomsticks, though it will soon be a time to appreciate a little bit of nature’s magic.
On Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. the Trustees of Reservations is holding a guided walk through the brickyard ruins of Chilmark. During the walk guides will tell stories of this once prosperous Island industry.
Note, many of these trails are narrow and a small brook crossing is required.
Registration is also required.
Please call 508-693-7662.
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.