Tag Archives: american goldfinch

Arboretum: Cup Plants and Caterpillars

I found this white-dotted prominent caterpillar (Nadata gibbosa) crawling across Meadow Road yesterday. A green caterpillar with an opaque, lighter green face, it is covered with white dots. This one had two brown patches on it, perhaps some sort of infection?

white-dotted prominent caterpillar
white-dotted prominent caterpillar

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Boston Harbor: Spectacle Island

On Monday, when Boston’s current heat wave was in its infancy, we took a ferry from Long Wharf to Spectacle Island, one of the many Boston Harbor Islands. Spectacle Island has gracefully taken Boston’s garbage and, recently, much of the dirt from the Big Dig. The flora is now re-establishing itself. The island features a visitor center, a sea kayak program, and a small swimming beach.

Visitor center and beach on Spectacle Island
Visitor center and beach on Spectacle Island

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Birding in the Arboretum

Yesterday started off as a sunny, warm, summer-like day but quickly turned cloudy, cold, and windy. Maybe it was this sudden turn of weather that kept many birds from showing themselves. Still, the robins and grackles and sparrows were out.

Chipping Sparrow in grass
Chipping Sparrow

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