Is something strange going on?

[mspencerfarms]

Looked out the window yesterday morning July 26 and couldn't believe what I saw.  Blackbirds were migrating south by the thousands.  Talked to a friend southeast of me about 35 miles and he said he was seeing it also.  Do these birds know something we don't or are they confused?  If we get an early fall frost most of our beans will get toasted here in northern Mo.  Can this season get any more whacky?

[phweethoo9]

Have been aware of the same early fall indicators here in central  upstate n.y. Tree swallows are congregating on power lines.as ot 7 /5 . This does not usually start occuring until mid August.

 The miniscule breed of mosquitoes ( the ones that can penetrate sreen windows)are here now in swarms. Usually not expected until mid Sept.

 And finally my Wifes never fail precursor of the first frost -- 6 weeks after hearing the first summer cricket-  this years target date

Sept.first.

[mjalbers3]

I have noticed the same strange behavior in Ohio. Barn swallows seem to be ready to pack it up about three weeks early. Crickets and cicadas very early this year.

[p-oed Farmer]

I will start off by saying that I am no expert in regard to the life cycles of bugs and such...... With that said..... I believe that the life cycle is temp driven...... and with the above ave heat this year these guys are here earlier than normal..... If anything it would be my guess that with all of the warmth this year that it would be a later frost rather than an early frost...... FWIW..... p-oed

[redrotor]

Based on heat units, I expected Japenese Beatles to be 8 days ahead of normal. They showed up 10 days after normal. But whats normal anymore!

[p-oed Farmer]

I refer to my opening statement......:~)...... p-oed

[Canuck_2]

I will agree with p-oed.

In nearly 50 years of farming only a little corn has been planted in my part of Ontario in April through the years and only in some years.

This year saw virtually all corn in the ground by end of April and that was because of warmth as much as dry.

Think natures little creatures are just working on an early schedule like the corn.

[bikinkawboy]

I'm waiting for someone to say we're going to have a cold winter because they saw some nearly black wooly worms and hardly any white ones.  The thing is, it doesn't matter whether we have a cold or mild winter, every year there are nearly black wooly worms and hardly any white ones.  Unlike the folks in Ontario, we Missourians had a cold, late, wet spring with plenty of late planted corn.  By that reasoning, the bugs and everything else should be later as well. 

Personally, I see weather as acting a lot like my teenage daughter; I don't dare guess what her mood is going to be from day to day let alone months from now, she's going to do as she sees fit no matter how much I complain, if I wait long enough a nice day will come along and speculating on tomorrow may be a good topic for conversation, but is futile none the less.  If you're a gambling man, go to Vegas because you'll have better luck there than trying to out guess the weather or teenagers.