A quick stop up at the lake this morning to see if there were many Clearwing Hummingbird Moths around.
Not many.
I did photograph a Monarch however then moved to check out the Cicada Killer's and there were quite a few but very few settling to allow a photograph. When I got home there was a nice Eastern Tiger to photograph.
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| Cicada Killer |
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| Eastern Amberwing |
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| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail |
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| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail |
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| Monarch |
a few butterflies turned up yesterday afternoon.
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| Bee on Mexican Sunflower |
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| Bee on Mountain Mint |
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| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Sunflower |
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| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Sunflower |
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| Mexican Sunflower |
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| Meadow Mist |
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| Monarch |
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| Spicebush Swallowtail |
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| Tropical Milkweed |
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| Wasp Thingy on Mountain Mint |
It's Sunday morning and just finishing my second cup of tea and reviewing some pictures of the Waders I shot earlier in the week. Here's one I like.
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| Least Sandpiper |
In the US they're called Shorebirds, in the UK they're called Waders. Now while they're often found along the shore certainly not always, so to my mind Waders is the correct term for them. While I was contemplating a trip out to the shore, Brigantine, Cape May, Bombay Hook or maybe even Chincoteague to see some birds I didn't have to go far as it turned out.
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| Killdeer |
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| Killdeer |
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| Killdeer |
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| Killdeer |
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| Killdeer |
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| Killdeer |
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| Killdeer |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| Least Sandpiper |
Before the temperature got up to the mid 90's as it did this afternoon I popped up to another wildflower patch that was productive last year. I found 3 Hummingbird Clearwing moths but still no butterflies. Several types of bee and this Hoverfly which was pretty nice.
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| Coneflower |
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| Hoverfly |
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| Hoverfly on Coneflower |
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| Hummingbird Clearwing |
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| Hummingbird Clearwing |
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| Hummingbird Clearwing |
Only the odd one or two Monarchs at the moment so it's still a bit on the slow side. I popped up to a patch that's paid off in the past for Zebra Swallowtails but apart from a couple of Bergamot plants the majority of the flowers have yet to bloom. Not a butterfly to be seen. Here's a Monarch from the yard nectaring on some Swamp Milkweed.
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| Monarch |
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| Monarch |
A thunderstorm around 10pm last night turned the front yard into a lake. I wondered if there would be ducks swimming among the trees when I woke up this morning. The sun is trying to break through which is not helping the humidity levels. At least in the winter it's not like trying to breathe underwater. Looking forward to a bit of cooler weather, maybe even a bit of snow.
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| Eastern Bluebird |
... the birds have more or less stopped singing and they're busy feeding their young. Their plumage is a bit ratty these days as well being at the end of the breeding season. The flowers are doing pretty good and are ready for the butterflies when they arrive which hopefully won't be long. I've seen the odd Monarch and as I was about to leave for a vet appointment yesterday I noticed a Monarch on a Mexican Sunflower. It would have made great shot but it flew off. I managed to get him/her on another sunflower but not where I wanted. There'll be more opportunities in the next few weeks.
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| Mexican Sunflower |
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| Monarch |
Mid morning on Friday, wet outside so I can't do much in the yard so what do I do? Do I play domestic goddess and vacuum and tidy up? It's a while before lunch so I need amusement for a bit. I know, I'll torment the cats. So it's Feline Friday.
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| Badger |
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| Momma |
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| Nutkin |
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| Oliver |
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| Rascal |
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| Willow |
