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Bug Crawl 2026

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  Baltimore Checkerspot Euphydras phaeton Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis Summer Azure Celastrina neglecta Appalachian Brown Lethe appalachia Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Monarch Danaus plexippus Black Swallowtail Papillo polyxenes Common Wood Nymph Cercyonis pegala Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papillo glaucus Common Checkered skipper Burnsius communis Red Spotted Purple Limentis arthemis puddling Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Summer 2026 has been a pretty mediocre summer for insects in my experience.  The extreme heat, rain and poor air quality due to forest fires up north have added to the mix.  This time of year I love to get out in the heat and humidity to check out the butterflies and dragonflies as well as damselflies when I can.  I am continuing to do an ebird checklist daily, though I often refer to them as 'bugcrawls"  I participate in a few NABA butterfly counts per year, Pinery PP, Rondeau PP, Sydenham Nature r...
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The Zone of Proximal Development

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 As an educator we are forever being thrown new theories on how we learn.  This one has stuck with me and I have seen it over and over in myself and others.  The theory is that there are zones of learning that are more effective to be successful at learning that skill.  When something is too easy, we get bored and lose the motivation to learn, when something is too hard, we grow frustrated and give up, when something is within our reach and with the help of others , we can learn the skill, that is the sweet spot where the learning sticks.  Learning is most effective when tasks are just out of reach but achievable with guidance from a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO)  This theory was developed by Soviet psychologist Lev Vygotsky, the theory emphasizes that learning is fundamentally a social process.  Pileated Woodpecker In creating curriculum for different age groups and levels, knowing this is very helpful.  In learning about our more than human wor...
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Dogspotting 11

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 The weather has been getting warmer and spring is in full swing.  I've been seeing many dogs on my travels.  This girl Sandy was out for a walk with her human one morning and she gave me a little welcome bark.  I encouraged her to come and sniff and it turned out she was just a young large mixed breed that loves people!  I got some shots of her walking through the field, after she took a dip in the pond! This is Cricket!  She goes to bird festivals with her owner and she was camping at the campsite where we were all looking for a bird (Connecticut warbler)  Such a good girl! This is good boy Doug, he is a Golden retriever crossed with a Labrador retriever.  I love his name (its my brothers name!) This is Tehya, a beautiful senior poodle that won the lottery when she was adopted at 13 by her current owner.  She takes her everywhere! This gorgeous girl is Violet! She is an English springer spaniel.  She was loving going on the trails with...
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Odyssey to Lake Huron

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Lake Huron trip report  The last two weeks of May is a very exciting time.  Most of the migrating birds have returned and birds are starting to claim their territory.  Wildlife is getting more active and baby making is the priority for them.  I live in the Lake Huron watershed and greatly enjoy birding my local hotspots and my patch.  Lake Huron is a critical bird migration corridor because its expansive shorelines and islands act as an ecological funnel. This provides much needed shelter and food on their migration south,  This is also the time that the Huron Fringe Birding Festival happens in Bruce county based out of MacGregor Point PP close to Port Elgin.  Last year I came for the first time for one day.  This year I came on two different days.  I had registered for Kiah J. full day outing for the first Saturday, but it was 100% chance of heavy rain, so I asked if I could switch, which I did to Thursday at the Kincardine Sewage Lagoons wi...
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