So, let’s say I eventually realize my tongue in cheek dream of flying a Steller’s Sea Eagle on seals (on the pack ice up Newfoundland way). Further, we’ll allow that my exploits get me an invite to central Europe to visit with eaglers there. While there, my bird attacks Václav Havel. Does that count as flying at (wait for it) Czech?
I’ll leave it to comments/commentors to explain the bad falconry pun…
A confession – with all the rain we had in July and August, the lawn in the back yard got away from me (not that I’m all that great about it when it’s not pouring). Finally some sun and dry weather – the low spot where the Siberian Iris live doesn’t have a quarter inch of standing water – I gotta mow! Way out back I discover a subterranean Yellow Jacket nest the quick and easy way; I mow over the entrance then get stung as I walk behind the mower into the stream of very pissed-off exiting hymenoptera. The good thing about letting the lawn go? The clippings were so thick that the wasps had trouble surging out – I only got stung once. The nest was in an out of the way place – I figured I’d leave it well enough alone unless/until there was another run-in. Last night someone solved the problem for me – dug up the nest and, I assume, ate the occupants (certainly ate the larva).
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I learned something new! I’d always assumed that burrowing wasps just constructed dirt chambers, like an ant nest. After seeing the paper strewn around, I looked it up:
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I also googled around a bit to see what might have caused the carnage.
Raccoons, skunks and other animals play a role in the demise of yellow jackets as summer wanes. These foraging mammals will dig down into yellow jacket nests at night and devour the whole colony. You might see the remains of such a repast, with bits of paper nest chambers strewn about. *
Sounds about right.
I had an errand to run this morning north of Portland and thought I’d stop in at the Goldenrod Garage. I’ve heard about the Goldenrod for ages, but this is my first visit. I took quite a few pictures – some to document, some to capture badges and textures, some to try to show the feel of the place – I guess that’s one way of saying that the slide show below is all over the place. Three favorite shots, then the show – enjoy!
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Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
A bookstore down the road a ways gets a notice in Bookride:
A bookseller on Route 1 in Porstmouth NH recently got in the papers yet again – he makes Bernard look like John Inman (‘Are you Being Served?’)–he charges a $5 browsing fee and has been known to knock out customers who venture in his shop without permission. I had heard of him over the years as an example of a dealer who had seriously lost the plot and have always been amazed that he stays in business.
Go and RTWT – the man is nuts. I was warned away from there 15 years ago by a friend who told me about the browsing fee and the generally threatening (“Why should I sell you my books, you POS?”) vibe. Portsmouth Herald article here.
