It's hard to believe, but it was a year ago today that I started my blog! My first post featured some Dall's porpoise photos, and I have featured many species since then from orcas to other whales, seals, sea lions, flowers, birds, mushrooms, otters, insects....I first thought I would focus mostly on cetaceans but my true inner naturalist has won over and this has really become an outlet for all my natural curiosities.
I didn't know what to expect when I started my blog, but the first year has been pretty successful. Here are a few stats to sum up year number one - thank you for being part of the journey!
In my first year I have posted 237 times and had 5,275 unique visitors, 57% of whom have returned again. I have had hits from 85 different countries and more than 1700 cities, with the top 5 nations represented being the United States, Germany, the UK, Canada, and France. Iran and India are also in the top 10. Pretty cool stuff! Here's to another successful year between now and July 2010....who knows how many awesome sights I have yet to see! You can be sure I will continue sharing them with you as my adventures continue.
But it wouldn't be appropriate for my first blogoversary post not to feature some photos, so here are some wildflowers I saw out on a walk today.
I didn't know what to expect when I started my blog, but the first year has been pretty successful. Here are a few stats to sum up year number one - thank you for being part of the journey!
In my first year I have posted 237 times and had 5,275 unique visitors, 57% of whom have returned again. I have had hits from 85 different countries and more than 1700 cities, with the top 5 nations represented being the United States, Germany, the UK, Canada, and France. Iran and India are also in the top 10. Pretty cool stuff! Here's to another successful year between now and July 2010....who knows how many awesome sights I have yet to see! You can be sure I will continue sharing them with you as my adventures continue.
But it wouldn't be appropriate for my first blogoversary post not to feature some photos, so here are some wildflowers I saw out on a walk today.
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) - turns out I was wrong a couple months ago when I identified one of the plants on my street as self-heal. It was actually purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum).
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Western dock (Rumex occidentalis)
Almost-but-not-quite-yet-bloomed-out western St. John's wort (Hypercium perforatum)
Happy Anniversary! I've learned so much from you and love your blog.
ReplyDeleteYou could have photographed all those flowers over here, or at least extremely similar european variants. We got a Humpback up north missed one about 10 years ago went to see it the day it disappeared...dohh
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary keep the info flowing
Cheers
D
Wow, 273 posts! Congratulations are in order as well as a thank you. Keep on blogging. Waiting for your assessment of macro lichens of North Lopez Island. ;-)
ReplyDeletehappy blogaversary Monika. look forward to reading many more posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the well-wishes, everyone!
ReplyDeleteDave - I'm continually amazed at how similar so many of our species are.
The K - That's 237 posts, at least for now. I'll certainly reach 273 this year.
Happy anniversary Monika! Wow, you're a busy girl... I've been blogging for over 2 years but still haven't reached 200 posts. Very soon, though. Oh well, we each have our own pace. Like your Chicory photo!
ReplyDeletecongrats, monika! you are an amazing naturalist with a gift for writing. i've really enjoyed reading your posts and happy that we got to meet in person. looking forward to more of both in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteHeather - I've wondering more than once about how often I "should" post. Certainly often enough to keep people coming back, but hopefully not too much that they can't keep up. I decided not to worry about that as much, and just post whenever I have something to post about, which in the San Juans just happens to be very often!
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie! I look forward to more of both as well.