Outside My Window

Sanderlings at the beach (photo from Wikimedia)

14 August 2026

Going to the beach? You’re certain to see shorebirds but who are they? They may be difficult to identify if they’re not in breeding plumage.

To give...

Funnel spider, Frick Park, 30 July 2026 (photo by Kate St.John)

13 August 2026

Late July through September is the best time of year to see funnel webs in Pittsburgh. The spiders that build these webs have been present since spring but they were so small I overlooked their webs.

Late summer webs show nicely, especially in dew. Here’s a selectio...

Brilliant blue heron statue in Shadyside (photo by Kate St. John). Left=original photo , Right = [AI Enhance] turned it gray

12 August 2026

“Is it real or is it artificial intelligence (AI)?”

A decade ago only dedicated photographers and videographers had good editing tools because the software cost money and it took time to learn.

Giant foxtail a.k.a. Japanese bristlegrass, Joncaire Street, 6 August 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

11 August 2026

On a walk last week on Joncaire Street near Schenley Park I was struck by the size and diversity of the weeds by the sidewalk, especially the grasses.

Why look at weeds?

Peter Del Tredici explains in

Tiny white ball floating over the trail at Frick Park, 9 August 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

10 August 2026

In August in southwestern PA you may notice a tiny white ball floating above the trail, maybe at eye level. If you walk into it you discover the ball is on a thread. It moves horizontally in a light breeze and can raise and lower itself. On closer...