Monthly Archives: June 2008

Blinking

I don’t normally do much blog linking – what I call blinking – but here are a couple I’ve come across recently that I’ve enjoyed.

First up is No Cats Allowed, a blog about the cats of Alaskan writer Grahamn Kracker. This is more than just a blog about his cats (and his cats that look very much like dogs), the pictures are intertwined with stories of cats he meets in his travels and stories about his family. Apparently some people don’t just post pictures of their cats to their blogs as a thinly veiled excuse for making bad puns. He just started writing in May so I’d recommend setting aside a few minutes and starting from the beginning.

Next up is the Boston’s Globe The Big Picture, which is attracting attention from photographers worldwide for the large images they post, going against the grain of nearly all other news sites which use small images. Each story has a small amount of explanatory text and then a number of images to go along with it. Subjects run the gamut from sports to science to current events, but not cats or wildlife, so you’ll see I do actually have interest in things that aren’t furry or feathered.

Don’t miss these Chilean volcano pictures, especially the ones with lightning. Or these photos of the Boston Celtics winning the NBA championship, the post where I first discovered the blog and got hooked.

Psst! Hey Buddy, Wanna Buy A Watch?

A marsh wren preens atop a cattail at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Marsh wrens serve a vital role in sloughs across the Pacific Northwest, acting as fences of shoddy or stolen merchandise. Be on your guard should one spot you, as it’s hard to resist their low, low prices!

One nice thing about this view of a preening marsh wren is that you can see the little white arrows that shoot down the dark patch at the top of its back, my favorite aspect of their plumage.

Puffball

A barn swallow sits atop a cattail at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

In the air, swallows have a sleek, aerodynamic shape designed for close maneuvering so they can catch insects in flight. You’d never know it from looking at this little puffball, with his feathers puffed out he gives a false impression of being rather plump. Many birds will do this when they are cold to create pockets of warm air, much like a hiker dressing in layers.