There is always something new to find or learn. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the number of videos about nature that I want to watch on YouTube, much less all the books I have yet to read that sit on my desk. That is why I like to give talks from time to time, or take up a new project. At least it keeps me focused on my research. I gave a talk on spiders to Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon. I think it went well. There is a video recording of my talk on their YouTube channel (my part starts at about 13 mins in). I also created a YouTube Channel for the Lorquin Entomological Society with the recordings from their past three years of speakers. Now you have the same dilemma as I have, which to watch first and how to get to them all.

Last month I completed the re-landscaping of my backyard to all native plants. I have already recorded several species of insects and birds new to my yard list: Lark Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Gray Buckeye butterfly, Western Pygmy Blue butterfly, Erebid moth (Tetanolita palligera), Ribbon Jumping Spider (Metacyrba taeniola), and a Mason Wasp (Pachodynerus pulverulentus), which also appears to be relatively new to California. Are they really new to my yard or have I just not seen them? Maybe it's because I'm spending more time looking for them. Whatever the reason, it is nice to have renewed interest in my yard. I also set up better crittercams for my night visitors. I was not disappointed. Watch the video of the wily racoon and a visit from opossum and skunk. I delighted myself by spending some time each day in my garden with my macro lens. I enjoyed seeing all the small changes of plants growing and insects coming.

I only went out a few times birding to see some of the fall migrants. I visited the LA River and a couple of local parks. The surprise was a Mountain Bluebird at the river. It is unusual to find one near the coast. It is new to my Long Beach list.

I also went on a pelagic birding trip out of Redondo Beach and added a Manx Shearwater as a new bird to my life list. It was a good day for pelagic birds with large flocks sitting on the water.

Go out and enjoy nature, and learn something new.
 

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Watch the slideshows or click on the links to look through at your own pace. Links open in a new tab.

Local Stuff:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_oct_2023

Pelagic birding out of Redondo Beach:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/pelagic_trip_oct_2023