Eristalis Tenax

Eristalis Tenax

“A bee, or not a bee? That is the question.” Answer: Not a bee. It’s a drone fly hanging out on our backyard lilac tree. Fun facts: • The drone fly’s scientific name is Eristalis tenax. • Eristalis tenax doesn’t bite, nor does it sting. • Eristalis tenax has shorter...
The Melancholy Sparrow

The Melancholy Sparrow

The Melancholy Sparrow: This golden-crowned sparrow was in our backyard today munching on seeds from miner’s lettuce and other assorted “weeds,” all part of an intense spring of bulking up so it can survive the long migration thousands and thousands miles north...
Who Needs Cardinals?

Who Needs Cardinals?

I’ve always been sad that I’ve never seen a Cardinal in person, and bummed that they don’t visit the West Coast. While grays and browns are perfectly pleasant and probably pretty practical in terms of protection from predators, I think if I were to...
If a Nuthatch Sees Its Shadow…

If a Nuthatch Sees Its Shadow…

Uh oh. A White-Breasted Nuthatch saw its shadow today in our backyard. Which means, as we all of course know, . . . six more weeks of lockdown. ? On the bright side, at least it has an OK place to live. I believe this is the fifth straight year of Nuthatches hatching...
error: