CWilbur

CWilbur, 2 months ago to mastodon

Most of you will never see even one of these mineral specimens in person, so when I was invited to see this case, I asked if I could snap a picture. So, my #mastodon friends, here are some of San Diego’s finest produced #gems in the rough. #tourmaline #morganite #kunzite.

CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

Absolutely stunning day for #butterflies today at Calavera. Surprise finds; surprise absences. If I had a wish, it would be for more landings. Much of what I saw was on its way somewhere. So no pix. But the Lorquin’s Admiral showed up big time.

Closing in on the Admiral.
Nice closeup of Lorquin’s Admiral.

CWilbur, 5 months ago to random

This is the future that GOP imagines for all of us. We must vote these people out!!

CWilbur, 8 days ago to random

New Blue today #butterflies

Pictures of a Blue close-up with outer wing pattern.
Pictures of a Blue nectaring on white flowers.
Pictures of a Blue wings open on low foliage.

CWilbur, 7 days ago to random

Today’s Calavera #butterflies Part 1

California Ringlet perched on dry grass.
Checkered White hanging with the Sunflowers with an interesting iridescence on the upper wing surface.
Female Marine Blue perched on a dry twig near the top of the Volcano.

CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

Ho hum day for #butterflies. I did see a couple of Sulphurs and a Monarch, but no pix. The lack of small butterbirds is shocking. Today’s only (barely) recordable encounter was a lone Silvery Blue. I got tons of video but the butterfly was mostly out of focus.

CWilbur, 6 months ago to random

My Mastodon phone app has gone kablooey. Anybody else have this? I restarted my iphone but no love from the ancient elephant.

CWilbur, 1 month ago to animals

The device on the upper left won’t boot. #catsofmastodon

CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

Okay masto-friends, I’m entering a local wildlife picture contest and I need help picking the one shot to submit. I’m gonna show you 10 pictures in three posts. Can you all weigh in on your opinion? If you want, just reply to the post selecting one of the three(or four) pix. Anyway, enjoy the posts. I took all these pix. First set:

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CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

#mysterious #mystery noise in the wall. There’s no motor in the wall. Just water pipes I think. Not shared wall. I went outside and yes, the noise is definitely coming from the wall. Any guesses?

No video. Just audio recorded on my phone of a mysterious noise in my wall.

CWilbur, 16 days ago to random

#storytime This happened back in the 1960s. So a while ago. A poacher hiked into a place called Pine Valley. He arrived at night, using his flashlight to travel the trail down from Chews Ridge in the Ventana Primitive Area. Stealthily, as was his method, he set up a sleeping pad, laid out his bag and prepared to sleep.
Later, he was awakened by a strange rhythmic growling noise. He sat up and shined his flashlight towards the source. Two eyes seemed to reflect the light back. Thinking it was a raccoon, he pulled out his pistol and fired several shots. The noise stopped and the eyes seemed to whither away. He laid back down and fell back asleep.
The next morning, the poacher discovered that the ‘eyes’ were actually two brass reflectors on the top of a sleeping bag. The bag belonged to a ranger who had set up his own camp 50 feet from the poacher. The ranger was dead.

CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

Part of a recent discovery in Pala, San Diego County, California. #tourmaline

CWilbur, 3 months ago to random

trail conditions, villagio trail in Carlsbad

Landscaping falling on trail
Broken gate on trail fence line
more broken fencing along trail

CWilbur, 3 months ago to random

Back to Calavera today, because the sun came out big-time. Still a little cool and a bit breezy, but #butterflies were out. Here are the swallowtails.

Another hilltopping Anise Swallowtail resting between fights.

CWilbur, 4 months ago to random

Banner day today in the #butterfly world down here in Carlsbad. Several units on the hilltop in Calavera. Some newly hatched. These aren’t the typical spring tattletales, but I think they portend an early season down here.

Recently hatched Gray Hairstreak, perched with wings partly open on new greens on top of Calavera’s “Volcano.”
Spotted this Behr’s Metalmark between the two peaks of the “Volcano” but unable to get a closer shot.

CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

Tis the season, I guess. #rattlesnake

CWilbur, 8 months ago to random

These pictures won’t make much sense, so just ignore them. 😸

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CWilbur, 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago) to random

Unknown Hairstreak

CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

Twelve years ago. #catursday

3 month old Sebastian discovers hiding in wastebaskets.

CWilbur, 1 month ago to random

Not a bad day for #butterflies tho the wind picked up and weather generally deteriorated with the day’s walk. Several interesting sightings and some shitty pictures. Today’s #butterfly excursion was to Calavera.

This Giant Swallowtail never gave me a clear shot.
My Lorquin’s Admiral was a repeat show today at Calavera.
Pretty sure this is a Gray Hairstreak. I’m guessing he’s old and lost most of his color.

CWilbur, 10 days ago to random

Found this political pamphlet in a 1992 newspaper I was saving. #democrats They all look so young.

CWilbur, 20 days ago to random

I walked the local neighborhood today looking for #butterflies and I have to say, the persistent, aggressive clearing of brush and leaf litter has been absolutely devastating to the #butterfly population in this community. It’s almost May, and by now the Sulphurs and Whites should be a ubiquitous sight here. I saw NONE. Zero.

Once I get away from areas subject to the most aggressive landscaping, I start seeing some local species. But still the effect is clear: No Blues, no Whites, no Sulphurs, greatly reduced numbers of Skippers, Cloaks, Swallowtails.

Wait I spoke too soon. I see a Cabbage White behind the pool in my back yard. Okay. ONE! 🙄

CWilbur, 5 days ago to random

Who the hell makes a cover of the Ramones’ “I wanna be sedated”? #complaints #PunkRock

CWilbur, 10 days ago (edited 10 days ago) to random

So-so day in the #butterfly world here. Still not seeing the Hairstreaks or the Blues. Saw what I thought was a Lorquin’s Admiral but on photo-inspection turned out to be a Sister. Still seeing Orangetips, which are usually gone by now. The biggest catch was a Pale Swallowtail (maybe more than one). I was about to say the species are slowly coming out, but again the pictures reveal this guy already has major battle scars. Not sure what the story is there.

CWilbur, 2 days ago to random

Drove 450 miles for this. Plus lunch. #corporatelife