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Nature: Spread of humanity taking toll on songbirds
A male chestnut-sided warbler forages in new oak foliage/Jim McCormacColumbus DispatchMay 19, 2019NATUREJim McCormacEach spring, a migration of epic proportions takes place. Songbirds of many species...
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White Slantline: The "Mayapple Moth"
A colony of mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, in an Ohio woodland in mid-April. This common wildflower is easily distinguished, in flower or not, by its distinctive deeply cleft umbrella-like leaves. A...
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Michigan revisited
A male Brewer's blackbird sings from an old jack pine snag. I found a small colony of about ten birds breeding in Kirtland's warbler country, in northern Montmorency County, Michigan.I'm up here for...
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Michigan flora and fauna from recent epic foray
A room with a view! This is Lake Nettie, the backdrop for NettieBay Lodge and its complement of cabins. I made this image a few evenings ago, right behind my cabin.I've just returned from nine days in...
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Showy lady's-slippers nearing peak bloom!
Today was a gorgeous early summer day in central Ohio, and Debbie DiCarlo and I spent it teaching/guiding a photographic workshop at the incomparable Cedar Bog about 45 minutes west of Columbus. I've...
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Shooting swallows in flight: Good luck!
As always, click the photo for a larger versionA cliff swallow in repose on a fence wire. The animal is easy enough to photograph like this. When it's on the wing, creating an image is an entirely...
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Who foots the bill for conservation?
Many of us have seen this sign, which a landowner across from Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (northwest Ohio) puts up every spring when thousands of birders descend on the region. I'm with the...
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Five-lined skink
An extraordinary reptile, an older male five-lined skink, Eumeces fasciatus, basks atop the kickrail of the boardwalk at Cedar Bog in Champaign County, Ohio. When young, these lizards are prominently...
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Southern Flying Squirrel Extravaganza!
A southern flying squirrel, in a rare moment of repose.Ā I had a rare treat last night, when a friend, Roman Mast, invited me to see an incredible display of southern flying squirrels at his property in...
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A few interesting insects from recent days
The insect world is seemingly endlessly diverse, and always fascinating. "Bugs" make the world go around, and natural systems would collapse without them. Insects also make for great macro photography....
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Barn swallows in golden light
As always, click the photo to enlargeI'm fortunate to have an accessible and pretty wildlife-friendly farm in close range. I'm free to enter, and practice photography. This is especially nice when time...
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Some dragons of late
A blue dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, adopts the obelisking posture. On hot days, as this one was, a perched dragonfly will often point its abdomen directly at the sun. By doing so, it minimizes heat...
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Nature: Dragonfly rarities pop up in survey
A young male Paiute dancer (Argia alberta) at Cedar Bog/Jim McCormacColumbus DispatchJune 30, 2019NATUREJim McCormacThe Ohio Dragonfly Survey, which began in 2017, is in its third and final season of...
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An amazing little robber fly!
I pay more than a fair share of attention to "bugs". Insects make the world go 'round, I've become convinced. Not only are they ecologically indispensable, their diversity and interesting habits are...
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Nature: New book quite handy for hiking in Hocking Hills
Columbus DispatchJuly 7, 2019NATUREJim McCormacIn Ohio, only Lake Erie, our inland sea and northern border, drives more tourism than the comparatively tiny Hocking Hills region. The core of the Hocking...
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Mothapalooza 2019
The sixth Mothapalooza is in the books and it was a smashing good time! Thanks to all of the organizers and volunteers, of which there are too many to name. I'll single one out: Mary Ann Barnett, who...
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Shawnee Photography Workshop: August 23-25, 2019
Early morning fogĀ mists the edges of a small lake within Shawnee State Forest. Water-shield, Brasenia schreberi, blankets the water's surface.If you've read this blog much, you've likely heard talk of...
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Merlins' appearance is rare treat for Ohio birders
Merlin nest with two chicks (one visible here) in Upper Arlington/Jim McCormacColumbus DispatchJuly 21, 2019NATUREJim McCormacAvid birder Leslie Sours was gardening in her Upper Arlington yard on a...
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Midwest Native Plant Conference 2019
Beautiful original artwork, courtesy of artist Ann Geise of Cincinnati, featuring the 2019 Midwest Native Plant Conference's conference plants: coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, and wild...
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Rare plants of Cedar Bog
A meadow full of fen indian-plantain, Arnoglossum plantagineum. The plant is an odd member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), and is quite rare in Ohio.I'm giving a talk this Saturday, August 10th...
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