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ysabetwordsmithToday we went out to the lake. These pictures primarily show the pollinator gardens around the parking lot and the approach to the lake paths.
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
ysabetwordsmith
Insect Bonanza
Aug. 25th, 2024 01:19 pmyourlibrarian
Never saw a bunch of butterflies clustered together like this before, much less so preoccupied that photos were possible. ( Read more... )
Parenting Ducklings
Jul. 5th, 2024 11:34 amyourlibrarian
We've seen at least 2 batches of goslings and 3 batches of ducklings. The geese all seem to have grown up. The ducklings seemed to disappear rapidly after birth. The geese are highly protective but also larger and better able to defend the babies. (The babies also grow bigger faster, making them less easy prey sooner).
But it's also the decision making by the female ducks. ( Read more... )
Photos: Cicadas
May. 14th, 2024 11:36 pmysabetwordsmithCicadas are hatching! I've seen a few hatch earlier, but this morning after the rain there are lots of them. The biggest concentration is around the forest garden and edges of the patio. :D These are red-eyed cicadas, technically periodical cicadas. Their carapaces are almost hard, their wings fully extended but still too soft to fly. It's a feast for everything that eats insects. Humans can eat them too. (I'm not planning to try that.) Usually what we get here are various types of the larger green cicadas, like the dog-day cicadas.
For maximum birdwatching benefits, keep an eye out on mornings after a rain. Once the nymphs shed their shells, they are soft and vulnerable. Many birds eagerly feast on them.
See also the poem "The Flying Jewels of Spring."
( Read more... )
For maximum birdwatching benefits, keep an eye out on mornings after a rain. Once the nymphs shed their shells, they are soft and vulnerable. Many birds eagerly feast on them.
See also the poem "The Flying Jewels of Spring."
( Read more... )
An American lady
May. 12th, 2024 11:37 amblackcatofmiseryI love spring, because garden centers open, and that means pollinators. I saw a butterfly going about in a greenhouse and finally tracked it down—taking a picture every couple of seconds, so I looked like a creep, I'm sure—on a hanging planter. I believe it's an American lady (Vanessa virginiensis), judging by the two eyespots and bit of pink.
( Photos beneath the cut. )
( Photos beneath the cut. )
Monarch butterfly
Sep. 26th, 2023 02:15 pmpauraque
This is the time of year when Monarchs begin to leave New England for their southern migration, but there are still a few around!
(no subject)
Aug. 6th, 2021 04:03 pmjazzziA week ago I noticed a butterfly in the garden, that I've never seen around before. Researching who it might be led to a discovery: seasonal dimorphism in butterflies! I am 75% sure that it is the summer form of Map butterfly (Araschnia levana), which is dramatically different from spring form (orange speckled with black). Also "Map" is wonderfully fun name for a butterfly =) I wonder if it is based on backside of the wings resembling a map of roads and paths?
Two new things in one day made me happy)
Two new things in one day made me happy)
Butterflies among Wild Marjoram flowers
Jul. 21st, 2021 06:48 pmturloughI walked past a patch of Wild Marjoram (Oregano vulgare) today and as usual it was full of bees and butterflies. Butterflies are even worse than birds for keeping still but this time I managed to get a couple of quite nice photos.
One of this Peacock (Aglais io) (click to enlarge):
And one of this ( Painted Lady... )
One of this Peacock (Aglais io) (click to enlarge):
And one of this ( Painted Lady... )
Pretty butterfly!
Jul. 10th, 2020 05:47 pmturloughCompared to flowers butterflies are incredibly tricky to photograph. They don't keep still! This morning however I managed to take two rather good pics of a Small Tortoiseshell. Click to enlarge:
( One more photo... )
( One more photo... )
Painted lady butterfly
Jul. 10th, 2018 07:58 pmnanila
We've got a newcomer in our garden! I know that painted lady butterflies do occasionally visit the UK Midlands, but I don't believe I've ever had more than a fleeting glimpse of one. I presume the prolonged heat wave is helping them to expand their range, as this one seems to have staked a claim here. Along with two very combative commas, a peacock, and a lot of cabbage whites, gatekeepers, and small tortoiseshells.
Holly blue butterfly
May. 14th, 2018 01:53 pmnanila
I was very excited this weekend to have gotten some of the best macro shots I've ever taken of a holly blue butterfly in my garden! They are tiny and infrequently settle at eye level so this was a treat.
Brimstone butterfly
Aug. 10th, 2017 08:39 amnanila
[Macro image of a female brimstone butterfly sitting on a green leaf, with lovely veined and spotted green wing underside on display.]
I am thrilled to have taken this photo. Brimstones visit our garden every summer, but I've never seen one actually have a lengthy rest in it, let alone allow me to get this close with my giant macro lens and pap it repeatedly.
Comma butterfly
Jul. 4th, 2017 04:32 pmnanila
[Macro images of a comma butterfly from the side, wings partially open, with its brilliant orange and black colour scheme & scalloped edges in view.]
I was getting a bit worried that the oregano and lavendar were in bloom and I had yet to see many butterflies in our Worcestershire garden. Today, though, I saw three cabbage whites, a very tattered small tortoiseshell, two skippers and two speckled woods. This was a tremendous relief. I also disturbed quite a number of white plume moths whilst clearing out weeds. They all flitted into the hedgerow, which I left untouched, so I'm hopeful they weren't too put out.
Speckled wood butterfly
Aug. 1st, 2016 09:42 amnanila
Speckled woods are allegedly quite common in the UK, but they're also rather shy so I've never had the opportunity to be this close to one before. I think this one is female. It was enjoying a repast of raspberries up at the more tangly end of our garden.
( +1, clear view of wing pattern )
Small tortoiseshell butterfly
Jul. 21st, 2016 04:06 pmnanila
[click to embiggen]
We hadn't seen many butterflies this year until the past week, when it suddenly got warm. I was starting to worry because the oregano was in full bloom and our usual swarm of small tortoiseshells hadn't turned up yet. They have now (and there was much rejoicing). Prior to that I'd only seen the occasional cabbage white, a single peacock and a solitary painted lady, which was never around when I had my camera out.
I spent a pleasant half hour trying to get the perfect shot of one of the tortoiseshells. This is SOOC (straight off of camera, uncropped and unedited), and I'm pretty happy to have captured it.
Small skipper butterfly
Jul. 27th, 2015 04:20 pmnanila
[Click to embiggen]
The oregano, up until the recent spate of wet and windy weather, was smothered in butterflies. I've counted six small tortoiseshells, two gatekeepers, a comma, a peacock and this small skipper on our modestly sized plant at once, along with many bees (bumble and honey), flies and beetles. Sometimes I don't know where to point my lens, I'm so spoiled for choice.
