Day: August 12, 2019

BLUE HERON – FIERCEST HUNTER OF THE FROG POND

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

In the span of about ten minutes, fifteen minutes tops, this Little Blue Heron ate a fish and three froglets (froglets are frogs that still have their tadpole tails).

Little Blue Heron eating froglet (note the frog’s tail).

According to Audubon and Cornell’s website, they are scarce breeders on Cape Ann, but I am not so sure about that. Although we are at the northern range of their breeding range, every year we see many first hatch year Little Blue Herons gathering at our local ponds along with other herons and egrets. They are definitely breeding on Cape Ann, despite maps that say otherwise.

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/10/02/admiring-the-rarely-seen-little-blue-calico-heron/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/08/13/a-fine-froggy-lunch-for-a-little-blue-heron/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/09/18/a-fine-froggy-dinner-for-a-little-blue-heron/

SNOWBERRY CLEARWINGS MATING ON SUNFLOWERS!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Reader DB sent in this terrific capture of a pair of Snowberry Clearwing Moths mating on her sunflowers.

Another name for the Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis) is Bumblebee Moth. Snowberry Clearwings are in the same family as Hummingbird Clearwing Moths (Hemaris thysbe). Snowberry Moths have yellow and black colors similar to Bumblebees while Hummingbird Clearwings, which are reddish brown and green, look more like Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

If you would like to attract clearwing moths to your garden, plant plenty of nectar-rich flowers that bloom in July especially. And even more importantly, plant the caterpillar food plants. The females deposit their eggs on honeysuckles, viburnums, blueberries, snowberry, and members of the rose family.

Another way to help clearwing moths is to NOT tidy up your garden in the fall. As is the case with so many species of Lepidoptera, and other insects, they overwinter in the leaf litter at the base of plants. Snowberry Clearwing Moths emerge in late spring and early summer from cocoons hidden in leaves.


Snowberry Clearwing Moth

HUNDREDS OF SQUID WASHED ASHORE AT LIGHTHOUSE BEACH IN ANNISQUAM

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Friends Bobbi and Pete Kovner sent in the snapshots from this morning. I didn’t go over to see because Bobbi reported back that the seagulls were eating the squid.

The photos show just a portion of the beach, there were actually much more.

Does anyone have an idea as to why there were so many squid at Lighthouse Beach. Thank you so much for writing if you do!

Today we have a #TonnoLesson on @ironoxfarm Heirloom Tomatoes! 

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

capeanneats

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Today we have a #TonnoLesson on @ironoxfarm Heirloom Tomatoes! 🤓 📝

What makes an Heirloom Tomato an heirloom? 🍅 These tomatoes seeds are passed down from season to season, (sometimes even generation to generation) taken from the tomato plants that produced the best fruit. This process allows farmers to select certain desirable traits like juiciness, size, shape, or color and produce the #UltimateTomato. 💪🏼


Heirloom tomatoes are also often open-pollinated, which means that they are pollinated naturally, by birds, 🐦 insects, 🐝 wind, 💨 or human hands.🤠👋🏼 No weird science-y genetic modification here!

Tonno Gloucester

2 Main St.

Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930

(978) 879-4795

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Belly at the Bar

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Cape Ann Wellness

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Belly Dance is coming to MAC!

Celebrate summer and get a taste of the Belly Dance classes coming to MAC this Fall!

Gather your girlfriends for a drink and learn some luscious moves that will make you feel beautiful!

ALL AGES + LEVELS WELCOME! Bring your daughters, mothers, grandmothers, friends for an unforgettable experience! Event is open to the community!

Attire: Anything that makes you feel luscious and beautiful. People typically wear yoga/workout clothing. Hip scarves provided, or bring your own!

About the instructor: Marci “Selena” Johnson has taught and performed all over the world. She holds a BA from UCLA and a Masters from Harvard. Her students range in age from 0-99. She has taught multicultural dance to preschoolers, teens, mothers, grandmothers, prenatal belly dance, and so much more. She has danced for multiple fundraisers for local schools and museums, and danced professionally on tour with many top performers…

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