The Well-read Naturalist
@wellreadnaturalist.bsky.social
Mild mannered reviewer of #books on natural philosophy, #naturalhistory, #HistSci, & #HistMed. Gentleman naturalist. Tweedy. Beardy. Has been found out standing in many fields. Plays well with otters. (he/him; Gaian, polytheist) www.wellreadnaturalist.com
It's Friday night. I'm settled onto my easy-chair in my pyjamas, a cup of tea by my side, and a copy of McGavin's and Davranoglou's "Essential Entomology, Second Edition" (@oxfordacademic.bsky.social) on my reading stand.
Party on, fellow book and nature nerds; party on! 🙂
Party on, fellow book and nature nerds; party on! 🙂
November 15, 2025 at 3:31 AM
It's Friday night. I'm settled onto my easy-chair in my pyjamas, a cup of tea by my side, and a copy of McGavin's and Davranoglou's "Essential Entomology, Second Edition" (@oxfordacademic.bsky.social) on my reading stand.
Party on, fellow book and nature nerds; party on! 🙂
Party on, fellow book and nature nerds; party on! 🙂
As it's Friday and I'm feeling uncharacteristically playful, I thought I'd "go nude" today - on my lapel, that is.
Seriously though, I'm having a little difficulty putting an ID to this little nudibranch pin I bought from @fossilforager.bsky.social at #EntSoc25. Suggestions are eagerly sought.
Seriously though, I'm having a little difficulty putting an ID to this little nudibranch pin I bought from @fossilforager.bsky.social at #EntSoc25. Suggestions are eagerly sought.
November 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
As it's Friday and I'm feeling uncharacteristically playful, I thought I'd "go nude" today - on my lapel, that is.
Seriously though, I'm having a little difficulty putting an ID to this little nudibranch pin I bought from @fossilforager.bsky.social at #EntSoc25. Suggestions are eagerly sought.
Seriously though, I'm having a little difficulty putting an ID to this little nudibranch pin I bought from @fossilforager.bsky.social at #EntSoc25. Suggestions are eagerly sought.
There are two university presses in attendance at #EntSoc25: @cornellupress.bsky.social and @oxfordacademic.bsky.social. They both have some lovely decals on offer at their respective stands. 😃
November 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
There are two university presses in attendance at #EntSoc25: @cornellupress.bsky.social and @oxfordacademic.bsky.social. They both have some lovely decals on offer at their respective stands. 😃
The entomology pinbadge energy is strong at #EntSoc25. I bought this lovely Carolina Mantis badge by Roving House at the BioQuipBugs / @pinitentomology.bsky.social stand, and this superb Orchid Mantis badge by @fossilforager.bsky.social at the Fossil Forager stand.
November 11, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The entomology pinbadge energy is strong at #EntSoc25. I bought this lovely Carolina Mantis badge by Roving House at the BioQuipBugs / @pinitentomology.bsky.social stand, and this superb Orchid Mantis badge by @fossilforager.bsky.social at the Fossil Forager stand.
Things I was not even remotely expecting to do today at #EntSoc25: hug a llama. 😊
It was a true pleasure to meet Caesar the No Drama Llama and his human assitants.
Thank you for all the good work you do, Ceasar.
It was a true pleasure to meet Caesar the No Drama Llama and his human assitants.
Thank you for all the good work you do, Ceasar.
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Things I was not even remotely expecting to do today at #EntSoc25: hug a llama. 😊
It was a true pleasure to meet Caesar the No Drama Llama and his human assitants.
Thank you for all the good work you do, Ceasar.
It was a true pleasure to meet Caesar the No Drama Llama and his human assitants.
Thank you for all the good work you do, Ceasar.
Seeing this copy of the second edition of "Essential Entomology" on the @oxfordacademic.bsky.social display table here at #EntSoc25 reminded me that I've been intending to read it for far
too long and that I really should remedy this deficiency in my reading very soon. #Booksky
too long and that I really should remedy this deficiency in my reading very soon. #Booksky
November 10, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Seeing this copy of the second edition of "Essential Entomology" on the @oxfordacademic.bsky.social display table here at #EntSoc25 reminded me that I've been intending to read it for far
too long and that I really should remedy this deficiency in my reading very soon. #Booksky
too long and that I really should remedy this deficiency in my reading very soon. #Booksky
I was particularly pleased to happen upon the Eddington volume as it contains his Gifford Lectures from 1927.
November 4, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I was particularly pleased to happen upon the Eddington volume as it contains his Gifford Lectures from 1927.
My visit to @powells.bsky.social over this past weekend was pleasantly productive. #Booksky
November 4, 2025 at 1:50 AM
My visit to @powells.bsky.social over this past weekend was pleasantly productive. #Booksky
The aforementioned falafel platter. 😋
(For those seeking delicious Lebanese food in the Hillsboro, Oregon area, this is at Oasis Lebanese Cuisine.
(For those seeking delicious Lebanese food in the Hillsboro, Oregon area, this is at Oasis Lebanese Cuisine.
November 2, 2025 at 2:02 AM
The aforementioned falafel platter. 😋
(For those seeking delicious Lebanese food in the Hillsboro, Oregon area, this is at Oasis Lebanese Cuisine.
(For those seeking delicious Lebanese food in the Hillsboro, Oregon area, this is at Oasis Lebanese Cuisine.
It recently occurred to me that I have not yet read Dr. Carl Sagan's now classic book "Cosmos."
I am now remedying that insufficiency in my reading history, with the assistance of a nice plate of falafels, rice, and hummus, as one does. 🙂 #Booksky
I am now remedying that insufficiency in my reading history, with the assistance of a nice plate of falafels, rice, and hummus, as one does. 🙂 #Booksky
November 2, 2025 at 12:24 AM
It recently occurred to me that I have not yet read Dr. Carl Sagan's now classic book "Cosmos."
I am now remedying that insufficiency in my reading history, with the assistance of a nice plate of falafels, rice, and hummus, as one does. 🙂 #Booksky
I am now remedying that insufficiency in my reading history, with the assistance of a nice plate of falafels, rice, and hummus, as one does. 🙂 #Booksky
When I've not just found a book interesting but also deeply enjoyed reading it, I can sit down and write my review of it in one continuous writing session. Dr. Jon Willis' "The Pale Blue Data Point" (@uchicagopress.bsky.social) is such a book. 1,697 words. You'll get to read them very soon. #Booksky
November 1, 2025 at 7:22 PM
When I've not just found a book interesting but also deeply enjoyed reading it, I can sit down and write my review of it in one continuous writing session. Dr. Jon Willis' "The Pale Blue Data Point" (@uchicagopress.bsky.social) is such a book. 1,697 words. You'll get to read them very soon. #Booksky
This being #Samhain, my family and I would usually build a large fire out behind our house and celebrate accordingly, but it's pitching down rain and my knee is killing me so we're participating in an alternative #pagan tradition: watching a DVD of "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!"
November 1, 2025 at 2:24 AM
As a life-long citizen of the state of Oregon, I enthusiastically say Ecotopia now!
October 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
As a life-long citizen of the state of Oregon, I enthusiastically say Ecotopia now!
Driving north from Cape May to the Newark airport, bookish fellow that I am, a stop at the Judy Blume service plaza was a literary imperative. 🤓📚 #Booksky
October 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Driving north from Cape May to the Newark airport, bookish fellow that I am, a stop at the Judy Blume service plaza was a literary imperative. 🤓📚 #Booksky
I've spent the Cape May Fall Birding Festival working at the Celestron stand just behind the display of Wildside Nature Tours, Kevin Loughlin's company. Hearing his stories has been very interesting indeed. Learn more about his "Galápagos; A Natural History:" press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
October 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I've spent the Cape May Fall Birding Festival working at the Celestron stand just behind the display of Wildside Nature Tours, Kevin Loughlin's company. Hearing his stories has been very interesting indeed. Learn more about his "Galápagos; A Natural History:" press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Do you know about the @princetonupress.bsky.social Pedia series? These handy and informative little books are a superb "every day carry" as an alternative to twiddling mobile phones during short moments of "down time." #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/series/pedia...
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/series/pedia...
October 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Do you know about the @princetonupress.bsky.social Pedia series? These handy and informative little books are a superb "every day carry" as an alternative to twiddling mobile phones during short moments of "down time." #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/series/pedia...
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/series/pedia...
As both a naturalist and a natural history evangelist, I hand out hand lenses at events I attend to encourage people - especially young people - to examine the world around them and discover the myriad wonders, particularly small and easily overlooked ones, that it contains.
October 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
As both a naturalist and a natural history evangelist, I hand out hand lenses at events I attend to encourage people - especially young people - to examine the world around them and discover the myriad wonders, particularly small and easily overlooked ones, that it contains.
Seen at the @princetonupress.bsky.social stand here at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival: "Habitats of North America: A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists." If you're reading this, this book is very likely for you. #Booksky
Learn more: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2025/05/habi...
Learn more: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2025/05/habi...
October 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Seen at the @princetonupress.bsky.social stand here at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival: "Habitats of North America: A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists." If you're reading this, this book is very likely for you. #Booksky
Learn more: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2025/05/habi...
Learn more: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2025/05/habi...
Seen at the @princetonupress.bsky.social stand at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival: an advance look at the forthcoming 2nd edition of the "Princeton Field Guide to the Social Wasps of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean." #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
October 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Seen at the @princetonupress.bsky.social stand at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival: an advance look at the forthcoming 2nd edition of the "Princeton Field Guide to the Social Wasps of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean." #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Seen at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival:
Of all the field guides published by @princetonupress.bsky.social, "Birds of the Mesozoic" is my favourite. It is delightful in its creativity as well as particularly informative about its subject. #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Of all the field guides published by @princetonupress.bsky.social, "Birds of the Mesozoic" is my favourite. It is delightful in its creativity as well as particularly informative about its subject. #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
October 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Seen at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival:
Of all the field guides published by @princetonupress.bsky.social, "Birds of the Mesozoic" is my favourite. It is delightful in its creativity as well as particularly informative about its subject. #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Of all the field guides published by @princetonupress.bsky.social, "Birds of the Mesozoic" is my favourite. It is delightful in its creativity as well as particularly informative about its subject. #Booksky
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Seen at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival: "The Little Book of Fungi."
I'm very pleased to see that the Little Books of Nature series from @princetonupress.bsky.social is still going strong.
Learn more about these informative little books: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2024/03/litt... #Booksky
I'm very pleased to see that the Little Books of Nature series from @princetonupress.bsky.social is still going strong.
Learn more about these informative little books: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2024/03/litt... #Booksky
October 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Seen at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival: "The Little Book of Fungi."
I'm very pleased to see that the Little Books of Nature series from @princetonupress.bsky.social is still going strong.
Learn more about these informative little books: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2024/03/litt... #Booksky
I'm very pleased to see that the Little Books of Nature series from @princetonupress.bsky.social is still going strong.
Learn more about these informative little books: www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2024/03/litt... #Booksky
I had my first look at the new National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds and it's eastern version (@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social) at the New Jersey Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory stand here at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival. Initial thought: I'm keen to spend more time with it. #Booksky
October 17, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I had my first look at the new National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds and it's eastern version (@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social) at the New Jersey Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory stand here at the Cape May Fall Birding Festival. Initial thought: I'm keen to spend more time with it. #Booksky