Omen in the Sky

Though we are still in September and the memory of oppressive summer heat is still fresh in our minds, an omen of winter gleamed in the sout...

L.A.'s Heat Wave

Known for its mild, sunny climate, Southern California has been in the grip of a heat wave over the past week. Coming on the heels of a cool...

Golden Days

The last weeks of summer and the first weeks of fall are, in my opinion, the best days of the year. Some may prefer the fragrant months of s...

Ptarmigan on the Rocks

During our recent travels through Iceland, we saw a fair number of rock ptarmigan. These hardy members of the grouse family are circumpolar ...

Songbird Exodus

By late September, the tide of migrant shorebirds is beginning to wane and the first migrant waterfowl, including cinnamon and blue-winged t...

The Last Moon of Summer

This morning, just before dawn, the full Harvest Moon beamed from the western sky. Within a few hours, the moon had set behind a bank of cl...

The Nature of Vacations

We humans need vacations. Whether it is a long trip abroad or just a weekend escape, we need a respite from work, a break from the routine,...

Crossing Glacial Terrain

After nine days of exploring the glaciated landscape of Iceland, with its broad, glacial valleys, deep fjords, winding moraines, glacial lak...

The Nature of Reykjavik

Despite its reputation for raw, rainy weather, Reykjavik basked in warm sunshine as we entered the capitol city this morning; stretching bet...

Iceland's Geothermal Corridors

Iceland formed (and continues to form) from volcanism along the mid Atlantic Ridge and first emerged from the sea about 16 million years ago...

Iceland's Waterfalls

According to the Iceland Tourist Board, their beautiful country has over 10.000 waterfalls; from my experience this week, their claim is a g...

Sheep & Swans

In one of our guidebooks, the author reports that there are 750,000 sheep in Iceland; after spending almost a week in this fabulous country ...

The Jokulsa a Fjollum River

Heading along the north edge of the Vatnajukoll Glacier, which covers most of southeast Iceland, the Jokulsa a Fjollum River flows northward...

A Day in the Fog

They say that the southeast coast of Iceland is beautiful; we'll have to take their word for it. After visiting the southern edge of the...

Beyond the Golden Circle

Most people who visit Iceland spend much of their time in Reykjavik and many sign up for guided tours in order to see the natural wonders fo...

A Mossy Moonscape

On our first day in Iceland, still struggling to adjust to the time change, we took a drive through the southwest, Reykjanes peninsula and e...

En Route

Those of us who like to fly and are intrigued by geography often find that the trip to and from our destination can be as interesting as the...

Land of Fire & Ice

Tomorrow, my wife and I will leave for Iceland, the Land of Fire & Ice. According to their Tourist Board, Iceland is about the size of ...

Storage Days

By September, the plants and animals of the Northern Hemi-sphere are shifting from a growth and reproduction mode to a season of storage and...

New Zealand's Quake

Mention earthquake zones and most of us would think of Japan, Sumatra, Chile or Southern California; others might include western China, Pak...

Jim & Earl

As of this morning, Hurricane Earl is spinning off the North Carolina coast. Downgraded to a category 2 storm, it is expected to weaken furt...

Nighthawk Season

Having wintered in South America, common nighthawks do not return to the American Heartland until early May. Unlike some insectivores, such...