Kay

pretty

I have been watching two, possibly three Great Crested Flycatchers IMBY. I've never noticed them here before but they look and act exactly as described. Two of them are periodically sitting still in an open spot in the garden with their mouths open (looking adorable) then quickly back to trees. Plenty of woodpeckers around here so maybe they have found a tree cavity to call home.

Incredible year to be an insectivore in the MA.

Otherwise: hot

Edit: please note I get this is not a rare species. also, I think fighting is breaking out.

3 minutes ago, WinterWxLuvr said:

Anybody else think the sound from a distance sounds exactly like a phaser on Star Trek?

Yes. Very strong Trek original series vibe to all the cicada sounds

1 hour ago, George BM said:

Mesoscale Discussion

July 4, 2021 2:23PM EDT

 

A tour de force, an epic journey, I laughed, I cried

The cicada thread on a cool, rainy day:

I haven't checked the gauge since yesterday morning before the rain started but there is .80 in it now.

Finally. Shells on a maple today It's the farthest tree from the river and the sandiest soil...Nothing elsewhere so far.

Just picked up a tenth and enjoyed a little thunder. The dry goes on. Only had a few sprinkles Monday.

I thought I was finally getting hit with fliers here and ran outside but it was actually a bunch of these

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CommonWhitetail_juvenile_male.jpg#/media/File:CommonWhitetail_juvenile_male.jpg

Back in College Park today, fairly epic...large mature cherry tree just encrusted with cicadas. Flying everywhere. I found one in the car on the way home. Still mostly just the cool distant drone here.

7 hours ago, vastateofmind said:

93 right now IMBY, though only 34% humidity -- bearable (for me), especially with breezy conditions again today. But I sat outside in the backyard too long yesterday and paid for it...my seasonal allergy symptoms returned with a vengeance last night.

That breeze has been helpful from a human POV. Just tough on young plants so delayed some planting plans. We seem to be in the midst of a pollenpocalypse.

I was griping about wind yesterday in the garden thread but omg the breeze after dark was delightful! Beautiful evening and first firefly spotted. @mappy in case you're interested in a 1987 cicada report from your general area I happened to talk to someone who was living in White Hall then and they were absolutely smashed. Pummeled. Seems it can vary in short distances but fwiw.

edit: oops shoulda used cicada thread. Apologies to anyone trying to minimize their exposure to cicada chat

Nice warmth and cloud cover but too windy

I don't usually deal with allergies or get irritated by pollen (lucky) but man, something was going ON today. Trees or grass I guess? Crying all day.

They're not emerging at all IM immediate BY so far. Plenty of sun here, but also a sandier soil...however today I heard them in the distance. Very cool. AND one, lone adult landed on a windowscreen right in front of me. So they're nearby and closing in. I haven't had a chance to explore around, unfortunately, maybe tomorrow.

This thread has been a sobering reminder that it's been WAY TOO LONG since I watched Galaxy Quest.

Pleasant warm evening. Starting to get a whiff of wild roses.

Still nothing here but was in College Park/Hyattsville yesterday and it was #happening.

This is a belated yesterday ob, but I was driving south on 95 right at this time and had a great view of some of these beauties. I know how dramatic weather is more popular but I stuff like this.

This afternoon has been increasingly brooding skies and occasional gustiness from the activity to the west, but no precip.

reporting in from NE MD, not pummeled so far

7 minutes ago, nw baltimore wx said:

Like others have said, this spring has been fine temperature-wise, but the wind has been cruddy.

I don't mind it that much generally but it hasn't been great for hardening off plants. I've been moving them to a relatively sheltered spot but just getting to and from the spot has been dicey.

stretch of lighter winds

On 5/4/2021 at 3:17 PM, North Balti Zen said:

We don't do the cool gardens a lot of you do, but I do put flowers in the outdoor pots every year about this time - should I wait this year until we clear the worst of the cicadas in mid-June?

I think they're only interested in trees, thinner branches/twigs/woodier things like shrubs (and even so not terribly destructive unless the plant is very young from what I've read). Not an expert but I don't think you need to worry about the flowers.

I've been holding off on planting my tomatoes. Tbh I'm always a little later than it could be, regardless of weather but not loving these chillier nights. They're looking good. Maybe next weekend...

5 hours ago, GATECH said:

Yeah, not a fan either,  I use Radar Scope.  The old NWS radar was fine IMO.  I was a fan of the National mosaic display, but they even messed that up and its unusable now.  They should have a ‘classic’ feature, kinda like when they rolled out new coke...now I have dated myself.

Same. I used to look at it all the time, much missed. 

Yet another person who just got their 2nd Pfizer shot (yesterday). After the 1st I had a sore arm and felt pretty out of it and tired for a day. At the moment roughly the same with the addition of neck/shoulder aches on that side and more out of it/tired. Happy to deal with all of this...