Earth Changes

Two Rare White Sparrows Appear in Moray Garden

STV, Scotland
Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:05 UTC

A Moray woman who photographed a rare white fledgling sparrow in her garden last week was left 'stunned' when a second white bird turned up.

Thought to be a 'one-in-a-million' rarity, the white sparrows have a condition known as leucism that leaves their feathers either partly or completely white.

While such birds have been spotted before around the world, intensive internet searches have so far revealed no previous instances where more than a single bird has been seen at the same spot.

Linda Crowther captured images of two of the birds being fed by a parent at the weekend - and she is convinced that there is an older third sparrow visiting.

She said: "I have kept a close watch for the original white sparrow and was stunned when, not one but, two turned up. They are almost identical and were being fed by the same adult male.

BP oil spill partially (?) to blame for high dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico

PhysOrg
Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:17 UTC

© Steve Shippee, UCF
For the past two years, scientists have been trying to figure out why there were a high number of dolphin deaths, part of what's called an "unusual mortality event" along the northern Gulf of Mexico. What they found was a perfect storm.

The largest oil spill on open water to date and other environmental factors led to the historically high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico, concludes a two-year scientific study released today. A team of biologists from several Gulf of Mexico institutions and the University of Central Florida in Orlando published their findings in the journal PLoS ONE. For the past two years, scientists have been trying to figure out why there were a high number of dolphin deaths, part of what's called an "unusual mortality event" along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Most troubling to scientists was the exceptionally high number of young dolphins that made up close to half of the 186 dolphins that washed ashore from Louisiana to western Florida from January to April 2010.

The number of "perinatal" (near birth) dolphins stranded during this four-month period was six times higher than the average number of perinatal strandings in the region since 2003 and nearly double the historical percentage of all strandings. "Unfortunately it was a 'perfect storm' that led to the dolphin deaths," said Graham Worthy, a UCF provosts distinguished professor of biology and co-author of the study. "The oil spill and cold winter of 2010 had already put significant stress on their food resources, resulting in poor body condition and depressed immune response. It appears the high volumes of cold freshwater coming from snowmelt water that pushed through Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound in 2011 was the final blow."

Iceland not cold enough? 14 killer whales seen off Northern Scotland

Alex Ward
Daily Mail
Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:11 UTC

© Cascade News
Rare appearance: Usually sighted in groups of four or five, visitors got an unprecedented glimpse at 14 killer whales off the John O'Groats coast

More than a dozen killer whales made a rare appearance off the most northerly point in mainland Britain on Monday morning. Visitors to the John O'Groats coast were spellbound as 14 killer whales splashed and played in the harbour.

In an unprecedented sighting, the killer whales, also known as orcas, are believed to have been attracted by seals and were part of two or three different pods.

When the heavens opened over New York: Incredible pictures of torrential rain, lightning, and hail breaking the city's heatwave

Daily Mail
Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:35 UTC

© Unknown
New Yorkers were hit with a torrential rain storm that turned the air from a humid summer swelter to a soggy downpour in a New York minute Wednesday afternoon. While those on the ground watched in disbelief as a sunny day turned into a hailstorm with inch-wide ice chunks hurling down from the sky, the best view was from above.

Manhattanites were hit with a torrential rain storm that turned the air from a humid summer swelter to a soggy downpour in a New York minute. As pedestrians took cover, meteorologists looked for explanations. 'It went out with a bang,' National Weather Service meteorologist Joey Pica said of the triple-digit heat that suffocated the city for the past three days.

While those on the ground watched in disbelief as a sunny day turned into a hailstorm with inch-wide ice chunks hurling down from the sky, the best view was from above. Instagram and Twitter quickly filled with images of the storm from people flying around the city at the time of the late-afternoon storm.

Arguably the best image comes from former NFL player Dhani Jones, who captured a moment when all of the precipitation of the city swirled in one frightful column, harkening something out of a villainous fantasy film. At the time, Jones was flying out of LaGuardia airport, which is in Queens, and was able to see over Queens and into part of Manhattan.

Additional photos

Swarming invasive insect from south-central Europe found in US for 1st time

Jessie L. Bonner
Associated Press
Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:27 UTC

© Idaho State Department of Agriculture / AP Photo
Two Elm Seed Bugs are seen in this undated handout photo provided by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. A federal official said Wednesday, July 18, 2012

An invasive insect commonly found in south-central Europe has been detected in southwestern Idaho, marking the first time the elm seed bug has been spotted in the U.S., according to federal officials.

A U.S. Agriculture Department specialist has confirmed the discovery of the pests that officials say don't pose a threat to trees, despite their name - but do tend to enter houses and buildings in huge swarms.

The Idaho Department of Agriculture issued a statement Wednesday warning that the bugs recently found in Ada and Canyon counties can prove to be a "significant nuisance" for homeowners. Elm seed bugs invade homes during the summer to escape heat, and then stick around through the winter, the department said.

The quarter-inch pests, which feed on elm tree seeds and resemble tiny, brown cockroaches with triangular back markings, do not pose a public health risk, officials said. But the bugs can have an unpleasant odor, "especially when crushed," said Pamela Juker, a spokeswoman for the Idaho Agriculture Department.

Manitoba highway sinkhole still moving, officials say

CBC News
Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:23 UTC

© Jason and Sheila Marshall
This aerial photograph of the massive sinkhole on Highway 83 was taken over the weekend by Jason and Sheila Marshall of Inglis, Man.

A landslide that caused a sinkhole to form on Highway 83 in western Manitoba is still moving, with the land sinking a few inches each day, according to the province.

Part of the highway near Asessippi Provincial Park, between Russell and Roblin, Man., has been closed since a section of the road collapsed last week.

Ron Weatherburn, a director with the province's Infrastructure and Transportation Department, told CBC News the sinkhole has dropped by about seven metres in some places.

"It's now moving an inch a day, or a few inches a day, so it is definitely slowing, and that's what we had expected," he said Monday.

"These slides don't typically happen in a few minutes or a few seconds," he added.

"They had noticed previously that there was some small amount of movement there, and then were taking precautionary measures, and then the larger slide started to occur."

Flood warnings in Scotland as up to three inches of rain are forecast in the west

Alistair Grant
Daily Record
Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:52 UTC

Gloomy July is set to get gloomier - with more flood warnings in the Central Belt and the south of Scotland. The Met Office warned the west can expect up to three inches of rain, with half an inch in the east. Government forecasters said up to two inches' rain had already fallen yesterday in south-west Scotland. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency are expected to issue flood alerts.

Scotland's sunshine is down more than 50 per cent this month at just 34 hours - around two hours a day - on course to beat 1931's record low of 84 hours. Maximum temperatures average just 15.2C, down 1.7C on the usual - and on track for one of the top 10 coldest ever Julys and the coldest since 1993's 14.8C. Records began in 1910.

Rainfall is more than treble the usual in parts, with Midlothian on course for one of its wettest Julys after being soaked by 106mm of rain.

Amsterdam Experiences the Coldest Summer in 25 Years

Tiffany
Amsterdam City Tours.com
Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:37 UTC

If you're planning to travel to Amsterdam this summer, be prepared... it's cold in the Netherlands!

At the summer's halfway point, the maximum temperature had only reached a measly 15.7 degrees Celsius. It hasn't been that cold this time of year since 1987.

With just half a month to go before the official end of summer, we are starting to see some warmer temperatures and the sun seems slightly less afraid to show its face. In June, we saw an average of 94 millimeters of rain, 26 millimeters more than normal for this time of year.

So, when packing your suitcase, make sure to include an umbrella and some wellies. Layers are also best for this type of weather so you can add or take off clothing pieces as necessary.

This is the perfect weather to check out some of Amsterdam's fantastic museums, restaurants and shops, many of which have been covered in past entries on the blog.

And with half the summer left, there's always a chance for better weather in the days ahead.

40 ton tree weakened from recent storms crushes driver on Georgetown Pike

Nathan Hager and Neal Augenstein
WTOP
Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:12 UTC

Great Falls, Virginia - One lane of Georgetown Pike in Great Falls is now open after a 40-ton tree crushed a 2008 Mercedes CL600, killing the driver Tuesday evening. Traffic is alternating directions. WTOP Traffic still recommends Route 7 as an alternative. Traffic along Georgetown Pike/Va. 193 between Springvale Road and Walker Road completely shut down after the tree came down around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Incredible moment a Canadian news crew narrowly escaped devastating landslide while investigating another earlier landslide

Kyle DeNuccio
GrindTV Outdoor
Wed, 18 Jul 2012 05:35 UTC

A Canadian news crew investigating a deadly landslide was caught off-guard when another large slide struck Johnsons Landing, British Columbia on Friday.

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Earth Changes

Two Rare White Sparrows Appear in Moray Garden

BP oil spill partially (?) to blame for high dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico

Iceland not cold enough? 14 killer whales seen off Northern Scotland

When the heavens opened over New York: Incredible pictures of torrential rain, lightning, and hail breaking the city's heatwave

Swarming invasive insect from south-central Europe found in US for 1st time

Manitoba highway sinkhole still moving, officials say

Flood warnings in Scotland as up to three inches of rain are forecast in the west

Amsterdam Experiences the Coldest Summer in 25 Years

40 ton tree weakened from recent storms crushes driver on Georgetown Pike

Incredible moment a Canadian news crew narrowly escaped devastating landslide while investigating another earlier landslide

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