@balsama.bsky.social
Petersons is still best at at least one thing:
CONFUSING FALL WARBLERS, etc
A friend of mine said of this picture:
“If that bird could talk, even it wouldn’t be able to tell you”
(Also: the actual species I think it is isn’t even on that page)
CONFUSING FALL WARBLERS, etc
A friend of mine said of this picture:
“If that bird could talk, even it wouldn’t be able to tell you”
(Also: the actual species I think it is isn’t even on that page)
November 16, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Petersons is still best at at least one thing:
CONFUSING FALL WARBLERS, etc
A friend of mine said of this picture:
“If that bird could talk, even it wouldn’t be able to tell you”
(Also: the actual species I think it is isn’t even on that page)
CONFUSING FALL WARBLERS, etc
A friend of mine said of this picture:
“If that bird could talk, even it wouldn’t be able to tell you”
(Also: the actual species I think it is isn’t even on that page)
Saw an Orange-crowned Warbler AND a Tennessee Warbler today in the pine trees behind the Eliot Upper School/tennis courts - next to the bridge. Tennessee Warblers are only reported in 0.1% of November Suffolk County checklists!
Bonus White-throated Sparrow.
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Bonus White-throated Sparrow.
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
November 15, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Saw an Orange-crowned Warbler AND a Tennessee Warbler today in the pine trees behind the Eliot Upper School/tennis courts - next to the bridge. Tennessee Warblers are only reported in 0.1% of November Suffolk County checklists!
Bonus White-throated Sparrow.
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Bonus White-throated Sparrow.
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
And possible a slightly better "final" image.
October 27, 2025 at 3:55 AM
And possible a slightly better "final" image.
Here's a time-lapse of all the "light" images with the comet circled.
October 27, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Here's a time-lapse of all the "light" images with the comet circled.
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) from a North End rooftop.
October 27, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) from a North End rooftop.
Ah, no. Just hidden on small screens.
October 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Ah, no. Just hidden on small screens.
Did google maps remove the option turn off "Labels"? There used to be a checkbox around here.
October 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Did google maps remove the option turn off "Labels"? There used to be a checkbox around here.
The full moon last night was about 6% larger in apparent diameter than the AVERAGE full moon. The closest perigean full moon is about 7% larger.
I had to get that off my chest because the Globe keeps reporting that a "supermoon" is 14% larger than the average.
I had to get that off my chest because the Globe keeps reporting that a "supermoon" is 14% larger than the average.
October 8, 2025 at 5:13 AM
The full moon last night was about 6% larger in apparent diameter than the AVERAGE full moon. The closest perigean full moon is about 7% larger.
I had to get that off my chest because the Globe keeps reporting that a "supermoon" is 14% larger than the average.
I had to get that off my chest because the Globe keeps reporting that a "supermoon" is 14% larger than the average.
Moonrise over Logan tonight. Full moon is technically tonight, but it happens just 12 minutes before midnight. So tomorrow night's 99% illumination will be practically identical, just on the other side of sunset.
This was at 6:07pm - about 5 minutes before sunset and 12 minutes after the moon rose.
This was at 6:07pm - about 5 minutes before sunset and 12 minutes after the moon rose.
October 7, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Moonrise over Logan tonight. Full moon is technically tonight, but it happens just 12 minutes before midnight. So tomorrow night's 99% illumination will be practically identical, just on the other side of sunset.
This was at 6:07pm - about 5 minutes before sunset and 12 minutes after the moon rose.
This was at 6:07pm - about 5 minutes before sunset and 12 minutes after the moon rose.
Some friends hosted a fall apple tasting party today! These are the results.
Sample size: 13
Notes:
* Participants were given a scoresheet (+cheese & 7UP) and asked to rate each of 18 cultivars 1-10
* Never heard of Pinova
* I think mode is the best measure (consensus)
* Bad Honeycrisp?
Sample size: 13
Notes:
* Participants were given a scoresheet (+cheese & 7UP) and asked to rate each of 18 cultivars 1-10
* Never heard of Pinova
* I think mode is the best measure (consensus)
* Bad Honeycrisp?
October 5, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Some friends hosted a fall apple tasting party today! These are the results.
Sample size: 13
Notes:
* Participants were given a scoresheet (+cheese & 7UP) and asked to rate each of 18 cultivars 1-10
* Never heard of Pinova
* I think mode is the best measure (consensus)
* Bad Honeycrisp?
Sample size: 13
Notes:
* Participants were given a scoresheet (+cheese & 7UP) and asked to rate each of 18 cultivars 1-10
* Never heard of Pinova
* I think mode is the best measure (consensus)
* Bad Honeycrisp?
5/5
Short video of the old moon rising behind Logan airport.
Short video of the old moon rising behind Logan airport.
September 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
5/5
Short video of the old moon rising behind Logan airport.
Short video of the old moon rising behind Logan airport.
4/5
It's also an excellent time to observe "earthshine" - the phenomenon in which sunlight is reflected from earth back to the unlit side of the moon.
It's also an excellent time to observe "earthshine" - the phenomenon in which sunlight is reflected from earth back to the unlit side of the moon.
September 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
4/5
It's also an excellent time to observe "earthshine" - the phenomenon in which sunlight is reflected from earth back to the unlit side of the moon.
It's also an excellent time to observe "earthshine" - the phenomenon in which sunlight is reflected from earth back to the unlit side of the moon.
3/5
The fall equinox new moon in the morning twilight rising above Logan airport - 20 September, 5:20am.
This is the only time of year you can see such an old moon in the morning :)
The fall equinox new moon in the morning twilight rising above Logan airport - 20 September, 5:20am.
This is the only time of year you can see such an old moon in the morning :)
September 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
3/5
The fall equinox new moon in the morning twilight rising above Logan airport - 20 September, 5:20am.
This is the only time of year you can see such an old moon in the morning :)
The fall equinox new moon in the morning twilight rising above Logan airport - 20 September, 5:20am.
This is the only time of year you can see such an old moon in the morning :)
2/5
But as the fall equinox approaches, the sun rises steeper - closer to 90°. So the sky is still relatively dark; dark enough for the faint bow of the old moon to be clearly visible.
But as the fall equinox approaches, the sun rises steeper - closer to 90°. So the sky is still relatively dark; dark enough for the faint bow of the old moon to be clearly visible.
September 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
2/5
But as the fall equinox approaches, the sun rises steeper - closer to 90°. So the sky is still relatively dark; dark enough for the faint bow of the old moon to be clearly visible.
But as the fall equinox approaches, the sun rises steeper - closer to 90°. So the sky is still relatively dark; dark enough for the faint bow of the old moon to be clearly visible.
1/5
For most of the year, the sun rises at a sharply acute angle to the horizon (outside the tropics).
On the morning before a new moon, the sun is near the horizon by the time the crescent moon is a few degrees above it.
This means that the crescent is usually too dim to see in the twilight.
For most of the year, the sun rises at a sharply acute angle to the horizon (outside the tropics).
On the morning before a new moon, the sun is near the horizon by the time the crescent moon is a few degrees above it.
This means that the crescent is usually too dim to see in the twilight.
September 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
1/5
For most of the year, the sun rises at a sharply acute angle to the horizon (outside the tropics).
On the morning before a new moon, the sun is near the horizon by the time the crescent moon is a few degrees above it.
This means that the crescent is usually too dim to see in the twilight.
For most of the year, the sun rises at a sharply acute angle to the horizon (outside the tropics).
On the morning before a new moon, the sun is near the horizon by the time the crescent moon is a few degrees above it.
This means that the crescent is usually too dim to see in the twilight.
I witnessed the crazy mirages at Revere Beach a few years ago. Here - in 2019 - the oil house at The Graves Light appears as tall as the lighthouse.
x.com/balsama/stat...
x.com/balsama/stat...
August 11, 2025 at 5:24 AM
I witnessed the crazy mirages at Revere Beach a few years ago. Here - in 2019 - the oil house at The Graves Light appears as tall as the lighthouse.
x.com/balsama/stat...
x.com/balsama/stat...
And then the moon disappeared behind haze.
August 11, 2025 at 5:24 AM
And then the moon disappeared behind haze.
The different temps of air at different layers created some weird shapes.
August 11, 2025 at 5:24 AM
The different temps of air at different layers created some weird shapes.
You can see the pocket of (warmer?) air near the water as the moon passes through.
August 11, 2025 at 5:24 AM
You can see the pocket of (warmer?) air near the water as the moon passes through.
Moonrise from Revere Beach last night looked like a glitch.
💀🌕
(Saturday, from Revere Beach)
💀🌕
(Saturday, from Revere Beach)
August 11, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Moonrise from Revere Beach last night looked like a glitch.
💀🌕
(Saturday, from Revere Beach)
💀🌕
(Saturday, from Revere Beach)
Eastern Kingbird on the Esplanade today
August 4, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Eastern Kingbird on the Esplanade today
Crescent Moon setting behind the stupid Verizon building tonight from the North End 🌙🏙️🌚
July 29, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Crescent Moon setting behind the stupid Verizon building tonight from the North End 🌙🏙️🌚