ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©

New Blogger Interface Test

2020-09-26T08:46:00.003-04:00

Hmm.

It's been a while

2018-09-06T17:58:00.000-04:00

nature notes

I'm not doing any editing, just checking to see if this thing still works. ~

Three Dog Bite

2017-01-08T10:59:00.001-05:00

I'm linking to Michelle's Nature Notes (#407), Carmi's Thematic Photographic 395 - Letters, Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #160, and Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. Each host has wonderful pics of their own, plus plenty of other contributors.

Here's another picture of that New Year's Eve hawk in D.C.:

Typical platter bird scene:

For letters, I'm going with Manhattan Pizza. In Virginia. (BTW, cold leftover pizza is great with morning coffee.)

Oh, about my post title:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Happy New Year!

2017-01-01T12:34:00.001-05:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#406) and Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #159. Here's Amelia:

How about a pair of dogs with bones?

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Dogs, Birds, and Christmas Orbs

2016-12-24T23:44:00.000-05:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#405) and Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #158.
Here are Amelia and Miley:

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. I haven't been out and about too much, so here are the platter birds:

And it's too long since we've had any orbs around here. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or just have a great weekend if that's your thing!

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Miley and More

2016-12-18T12:26:00.001-05:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#404). Also, to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 393 - Dirty. Also, it's already time (and then some) for Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #157 and Anni's I'd Rather B' Birdin'.

Get your dirty paws off the counter, Miley!!

That's better.

Here's Rory, surveying the back 40:

P.S. Bird pics to come soon....Here are some from a craft show:

Incoming mockingbird fence:

It was so windy out, Nutkin didn't stop clinging to this board even when I opened the kitchen door to take his pic:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Autumn and Rainbow Colors

2016-12-09T20:24:00.000-05:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#403). And I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 392 - Colors of the rainbow.
As you can see, this red maple has dropped a lot of leaves, but it's still brilliant.

Here's an interesting house on the way to Rock Creek Park:

This horse was in the Park Police corral in Rock Creek Park.

Here's Nutkin!

UPDATE: As it is Saturday (already!), I am also linking to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #156, and Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
The leucistic house sparrow still shows up once in a while:

Apparently, December 1 was laundry day:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Talk Is Cheep!

2016-12-05T00:09:00.001-05:00

Here are the places I meant to link to last week:

Michelle's Nature Notes (#402)

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 391 - Repetitive

Gosia k. is doing good fences now.

And Eileeninmd's Critters are on Saturday, still.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Platter Birds, Porch Birds

2016-11-27T11:50:00.002-05:00

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #154. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. I've been experimenting with the Canon G15 a lot lately. I suspect that it's become worn and damaged through use (and abuse, it's hit the floor once or twice), auto-mode doesn't work the way I'm used to. But it still can take decent pics, especially in macro mode. So now I'm trying other modes I've never bothered with before.
D.C. platter birds:

West Virginia porch birds:

Here's a turkey vulture:

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 390 - Out for a walk. Of course that happens several times a day when there's a dog in your household. Here's Theda having a drink from Lake Siri:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Doggy Thanksgiving

2016-11-24T23:55:00.000-05:00

This is my contribution to TexWiscGirls ultimate Good Fences #140 - The Final. Thank you, TWG, for hosting and commenting on everyone's blogs!

I snapped these sparrows last Thursday for Good Fences.

Here's Theda going though the community garden project at Rock Creek Park.

Practicing doggy yoga on the porch in West Virginia.

I'm also linking to Michelle's Nature Notes (#401). I've had a few Canon G-15s (like Spinal Tap drummers, they keep exploding). I find that they take good pics in the auto setting, so that's what I've mainly stuck with. But this one is not working that well anymore in auto mode, especially on white flowers, etc. I'm experimenting with the shutter speed priority and aperture priority modes (you pick one, the camera picks the other), and the Leucistic House Sparrow remains in the neighborhood.

The colors are better, but the pic should be sharper given that it was taken on a tripod about six feet away with a remote shutter. More experiments to come.

And now for the conclusion of our Doggy Thanksgiving:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Leucistic House Sparrow

2016-11-19T10:08:00.000-05:00

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #153. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin.

I noticed a white bird out the window yesterday, and wondered, "What the heck, is that a parakeet or something with those house sparrows (Passer domesticus)?" Then I put out some more seeds and set up the camera on the tripod. And the bird came back.

"In leucistic birds, affected plumage lacks melanin pigment due to the cells responsible for melanin production being absent. This results in a white feathers, unless the normal plumage colour also comprises carotenoids (e.g. yellows), which remain unaffected by the condition."

Some people say spotting one of these birds is lucky. Guess what, the sparrow was back again this morning (along with many friends). Maybe we can all be in luck!

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Fall Colors and Nutkin

2016-11-17T10:24:00.001-05:00

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #139. Here's Nutkin...

There goes Nutkin!

Some neighbor trees are showing their fall finery:

And last but not least, the platter birds:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Mystery Wasp

2016-11-16T11:50:00.000-05:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#400).

Last post, I misidentified a wasp I found on the W. and O.D. trail as a Great Golden Digger Wasp. (Thanks to Phil for the heads-up!)

I guessed it was a Great Golden Digger Wasp because of similar shape, coloration, and location (this one was just a hundred feet down the trail from the ones I photographed in October). Also, it was doing what I expected a GGDW would do when it wasn't visiting goldenrod flowers: rummaging around in the trail dust. (In fact, I think it had located some hapless bug).

However, the head shape is quite different (and is all black) and the legs are black instead of orange:

Searching around google images, I found that there is a species of Thread-waisted Wasp called Ammophila procera that is a possibility. "This is the largest species in the eastern U.S. to sport the silver stripes on the side of the thorax, a hallmark of most members of the genus."

You can see silver stripes on the thorax under the right wings. (and it was quite large, at least length-wise...maybe not 2 inches, but close.)

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 389 - Drink up. The birds enjoy their frisbee bird bath in the backyard every day:

But sometimes it is mysteriously emptied. Hmmm?

Another mystery solved!

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Fall Butterflies

2016-11-12T11:34:00.000-05:00

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #152.

I didn't see as many butterflies this year as I'm used to. But there were some out in Ashburn this month. Here is a Variegated Fritillary:

A Clouded Sulphur and Cabbage White sharing a dandelion:

I took some photos of the Great Golden Digger Wasp last month when it was shiny and getting nectar in the sun. They also get down and dirty, as the digger part of the name indicates.

I'm linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
These are vultures in Ashburn.

Some D.C. platter birds:

Last but not least, here's another shot of Miley, the St. Dane!

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Introducing Miley

2016-11-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#399). Here are some more shots of the porch birds from last week in W.V.

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 388 - Abstract. I liked his idea so ~~I'm copying it~~ I'm paying tribute to Carmi's masterpiece:

It's Thursday already, so time for TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #138:
Amelia and Mikey by the porch stair fences:

Rory has a bit of fence behind him:

And the newest member of my sister's pack, Miley! She's a St. Bernard/Great Dane mix (Great Bernard? Saint Dane?) and cute as a button. (A big button, she's 10 months old and a hundred pounds already.)

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Fall Colors and Critters

2016-11-05T21:26:00.000-04:00

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #137.

I'm late with my posts this week, so this one is also for:

Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #151

Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'

and Carmi's Thematic Photographic 387 - Where I Shop

This hotel is next to Berkeley Springs State Park.

These minnows live in Warm Springs Run, the creek under that bridge.

George Washington's bath tub:

I don't shop in many stores in Berkeley Springs, but this is one I visit often.

How about a bird and a fence? This is one of 'our' porch birds, a Downy Woodpecker.

A White-breasted Nuthatch:

Race for the seeds:

Fall colors from Cacapon Mountain and Lake Siri:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

We're On Your Porch, Eating Your Seeds.

2016-11-01T23:57:00.000-04:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#398).

And here is some fall foliage with Canadian Geese, Lake Siri, and Cacapon Mountain.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Cardinalis cardinalis

2016-10-29T08:22:00.000-04:00

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #150. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B' Birdin.

We got to West Virginia late yesterday afternoon and the local birds haven't found out there's food on the porch again (yet). Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal were strutting their stuff in the backyard in D.C. yesterday.

Update: They're here!

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Theda Morning Glory

2016-10-27T23:18:00.000-04:00

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #136.

Vines can be a pain, but morning glories are so pretty.

It's getting really spooking around here!

How about a bee?

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Fall Critters

2016-10-26T12:55:00.000-04:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#397). And I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 386 - Autumn.

The leaves are starting to change on the Streambank Mock Orange:

I know I've been posting a lot of sweat bees lately, but their colors go so nicely with the flowers:

Theda is loving the cool weather and sunshine:

Gray Catbird

2016-10-24T00:49:00.000-04:00

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #149. This is a Red-eared slider from Ashburn earlier this month.

A couple days later, I saw the turtle sunning on the bank:

Also from earlier this month, a Common Buckeye:

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. Both mockingbirds and catbirds were all over the pokeberries earlier this month, but the catbirds were too shy to let me get a decent pic. Turns out I got one after all.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Sweat Bee

2016-10-20T23:53:00.001-04:00

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #135.
This is the elementary school I went to.

I'm also linking to Michelle's Nature Notes (#396).
This is a sweat bee.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

They Always Look So Guilty

2016-10-19T00:04:00.001-04:00

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #148. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.

Here is Mrs. Cardinal taking to the air.

I'm raven about this crow. (Or the other way.) Unfortunately the sun was on the wrong side for great pixels, but the (big) bird was so focused that it let me get closer than they usually do.

Carpenter Bee

Grass Spider:

This is Trichopoda pennipes:

The Carpenter Sisters:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Giant Spider Season

2016-10-14T17:11:00.001-04:00

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#395). And I'm also linking to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #134.
Here's an Ashburn chicken:

It's GIANT SPIDER season!!!

Here's my fence. It's a bit wild and wooly in the front yard, but the new Cercis canadensis is loving it.

Also from the front yard, the real deal: Beware the guardian grass spider (and all her sisters):

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Fall Bees, Butterflies, and Birds

2016-10-09T11:56:00.000-04:00

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #147.

Perhaps you'd prefer a butterfly, like this Pearl Crescent?

I usually see Great Spangled Fritillaries. Here is a Variegated Fritillary.

I'm also contributing to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. This mockingbird will direct you to the animal clinic:

The vultures are very happy that we build power line towers for them.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~