The Backyard Oasis

white ibis social

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 16:49:00 +0000

Today 14 white ibis were socializing lakeside and I could not resist a little photoshoot on the way home. A detour like this can make me late an hour at least, but, I just can't help myself. I didn't just see the white ibis either... I saw several little blue herons, several ducks, 2 great blue herons, a anhinga, a bald eagle , 2 great white egrets, a snowy egret, 2 wood storks, 2 sandhill cranes, 2 tricolor herons, a common yellowthroat, and a loggerhead shrike. I think that is it! Wow, no wonder I was late getting home right?

Little munchkins

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 21:15:00 +0000

Little munchkins were let out of the nest recently and if they were in our yard the entire time ...they were very quiet. Mama dropped them off here because it's about as safe as you can get. There are 4 of them. One litter last year was 6. I don't publicize these numbers to neighbors because some of them go nuts. Just like we keep alligator sightings to ourselves. Before you know it trappers are here if you do that.

The vinyl fence in our yard is a great big playpen for them. They have a half dozen different feeders to get into, and they have a bunch of different trees to climb for coordination building. Since we mainly only have seeds right now around us because our oak trees are too young yet, I stopped on my way home this morning and picked acorns off the ground for a little treat. I hope they like them. If they do, I'll keep collecting them.

My Red Crape Myrtle ...

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:34:00 +0000

has never looked prettier. This is a really slow grower. We've had it for about 6 or 7 years. It is on the east side of the house. I think it would like more sun and more water but it has done fantastic this year. I love it. I wish it bloomed all year but summer through fall is good enough! I had to lay on the grass to get some of these shots and the east side of the house is on the road. I don't think some of my neighbors understand why they see me in this odd positions all over the place but ya know what...I don't really care. I love the excitement of getting a pretty shot and I just do what it takes.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:24:00 +0000

Enjoying the pentas on a beautiful day in the backyard garden.

Sunday Afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 20:10:00 +0000

Today we took advantage of living so close to Disney World and went down the street to the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. We had a gift certificate from my brother-in-law and hubby couldn't get the football game here so we went down to their pool bar and had lunch. Hubby got to watch the game and I got to have my cucumber collins then walk around and take in all the beauty. This is the second time in the past month we have gone to use up this xmas gift and it was such a lovely day. What a pretty place and off season it wasn't crowded at all.

cucumber collins and beer

cheese burger

turkey club and chips. delicious!

a lake view

the pool waterfalls

private cave like seating areas around the pool

walking through the grotto

Purple Allamanda

Pride of Barbados

lounge chairs running along one side of the lake

a pretty little snowy egret thinks he might see some lunch!

people having a good time on the water sports rides

all the activities lined up ready to go on the wharf

canoeing couple

Pretty sunset

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 19:38:00 +0000

This time of year we get the prettiest sunsets and sitting on our back lanai we can catch it all through the trees that have grown really big over the last 7 years.

monarch drying wings

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:20:00 +0000

A male monarch either drying his wings or just resting on our passion vine against the screen lanai.

Harlequin flower beetle - Gymnetis caseyi

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:17:00 +0000

This little guy (not as big as a quarter but bigger than a nickel) had been hanging out in my flower bed for a couple of days. I have never seen one before so I uploaded a pic to the bug experts. He is yellow and black with a pretty pattern on his back...almost damask like. He has claws like a crab and his eyes have personality. The little antenna's retract out and in too. They look like martian antenna's to me. I don't think they are native to Florida. Sadly I found him dead on the pavers a couple days later. He was intact but laying on his back. I don't know what could have happened. Maybe he flipped over and couldn't roll over. Not sure. Made me sad though. Goodbye little bug, hope you enjoyed your last few days in our backyard.

Flawless Male Monarch

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 19:01:00 +0000

So the Monarchs are still being born. This one is so perfect and fresh. Flawless. Nectaring on Jatropha in the backyard.

Trips to Biosphere

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:45:00 +0000

Had to make another run for scarlet milkweed...we have purchased now 11 (3) gallon plants in the last couple of weeks. Crazy how much the monarch cats eat. Big and fat they are getting. It still wasn't enough. I had 4 little ones who just weren't going to get enough food so I had to bring them over to a neighbors. She had a bunch of new leaves for them. Made me very happy. I hope they got nice and fat. While making milkweed runs I made sure to squeeze in a couple shots of the pretty flowers at the nursery (I asked permission and they were so nice to allow me). I got a few great shots of their awesome nursery. Biosphere Nursery is on Tilden Road in Winter Garden and everything is pesticide free. Such a great place. Love going there and just wandering around staring at all the beauty.

Common Gallinule swimming through water lily pads

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 18:51:00 +0000

I was happy to stumble upon this little guy at Summerport too. Walked right over those water lillies for me with his green legs and feet.

Was wondering where all the white ibis were hiding

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 18:43:00 +0000

I guess I don't have to wonder anymore. I found them...a lot of them...I counted 2 dozen and most were hanging pretty comfortably under a great big willow tree situated in someone's backyard but on the lake. The area is Summerport which is a neighborhood down the street from me. I photographed some juvies and adults. So pretty!

Vulture

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:52:00 +0000

Turkey vulture or black vulture looking over his domain. A storm came in very quick after this shot around the neighborhood (Lakes of Windermere)

Cormorant making good use of pond drain

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 16:47:00 +0000

The cormorants know how to make the best of things and just use whatever is available on these man made freshwater ponds around here to perch. As the sun is setting. Pretty little guy with the perfect blue eyes.

Swallowtail covered in nectar

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 16:38:00 +0000

beautiful Palamedes Swallowtail (verified) in the garden on Jatropha covered in nectar!

Bees are loving on this crape myrtle

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 16:27:00 +0000

lovely lilac crape myrtles with yellow antennas are so pretty against the blue sky at this time of year. Here was caught a bee enjoying it too!

Chasing Dragonflies

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 16:01:00 +0000

Cute little blue body green face guy on my oleander bush hanging out. Fat cheeks. Makes for a great illustrative character.

Remember the Highlights Childrens Magazine?

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:45:00 +0000

In the 70's when my mom would take me to the dentist, this is the only thing I would read in the waiting room. This photo had me thinking back of their puzzles where you would find wrong things or hidden things. I need to submit this photograph if they're still around. How many caterpillars can you see? Click to enlarge image

lol. No but seriously, I counted over thirty in the two spots we have milkweed this year. There was still a dozen or more this morning at one milkweed patch. The other milkweed patch is vanished and no sight of caterpillars either. We made our last trip to Biosphere late last week for Milkweed to buy 4 more plants for a total of 11 plus the few natural I have in the yard. It's a full fledged monarch farm and boy do we have the caterpillar manure to prove it. I even had two Monarchs flirting around this morning and nectaring. One was a male for sure and I did not see any laying eggs...not that we have a spare leaf to do it but I didn't see them go to it either.

the say you are suppose to let nature take it's course...

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:36:00 +0000

and sometimes it really s*cks to watch. Not that I just stood there. I screamed and called for a broom but it was too late.

top left: Newly formed monarch chrysalis. The caterpillar spent all day yesterday finding it's spot and by dark last night it was hanging in its J. I awoke to this pretty little chrysalis with gold speckles hanging like a delicate necklace charm. I can even see it's wing formation.

top right: Late morning I went to observe and saw this green monster (anole lizard) eyeing it up. I also noted a liquid green drop at the bottom of the chrysalis. I thought he was up to something bad but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

bottom left: Sure enough little b*stard was up to no good as I suspected. The green anole lizard took a great big bite on the chrysalis. I screamed (ha ha my lizards listen to me), and he stopped but not in time.

bottom right: The damage. Dents and punctures and most likely the pupa is either dead or deformed. I'll leave it hanging just in case, or should I?

Got Milk...

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:12:00 +0000

Weed? We have a heckuva lot of monarch caterpillars noticed today. I was complaining that we've had monarchs laying eggs everyday and I hadn't really seen any...well boy did they creep up over night! I counted 15 on one small plant (second pic shows them all, can you find them? Click to enlarge) and we have at least that many or more in another location. So I am off to the nursery to pick up some more milkweed today. They are $4 a piece. We bought 7 last week and had a few already in the yard that grow naturally. Today I will get 4 more. A monarch was here laying eggs this morning and yesterday too. Feels like a monarch farm here! Oh and I forgot to mention, I saw at least three big fat fella's crawling away from the plant this morning to go make their J somewhere. I wanted them to stay close by so I could locate them and watch/photograph the process but the ungrateful bastards went and hid on me. I've looked and looked and have no idea where they went. Probably crawled over to the neighbors who do absolutely nothing to help them in regards to habitat or food like we do. Likely have no idea they even exist.

butterfly mania

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 21:02:00 +0000

Our backyard is haven for the butterflies. I am seeing various swallowtails and cloudless sulfurs fly through each day for a quick bite to eat. Today, I believe a Spicebush Swallowtail came through but they stay still not even a second it seems and very hard to get a good shot. I only got one and it wasn't good and then it left the yard. One Longwing Zebra was here a day or two ago laying eggs and a couple weeks ago we had a mess of them and they laid eggs like crazy on the passion vine but it seemed we only sprouted Gulf Fritillaries even though for a short time they were equal in dominance. No white caterpillars seen, just orange and black. Not sure if the Fritillaries are eating the eggs or the ants. We have more Gulf Fritillary caterpillars and at least two of their chrysalises hanging on the passion vine now. Yesterday there was 4 or 5 Fritillaries flying around together. Everyday they are here in abundance. The Monarchs are also still prominent. Laying eggs and we have caterpillars now too. I see at least 5. We should have more but again I see the ants and flies so I don't know for sure but I think many get eaten. The amount of egg laying going on should have a zillion caterpillars but that is not the case. They are getting big quick. Wondering if this is considered the 4th or 5th generation Monarch. I think 5th. Will they migrate to Mexico or stay here all winter. Biosphere tells me we have Monarchs that don't migrate. I will pay more attention this year for sure!

dainty pretty fritillaries

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:28:00 +0000

She takes such a beautiful picture! She is quick in the air but when she lands for nectar she must have no fear of predators because she really takes her time...so unlike the swallowtails who barely land for nectar before they are on to the next flower.

New Morning... New Wake Up Call

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 12:55:00 +0000

So yesterday it was the sweet little Carolina Wren singing we woke to, but, this morning was another story. Someone was in a bad mood I'd say. It was 7:10 am and we hear kee-ahh, kee-ahh, kee-ahh. I grab my camera and then go back for my pants, lol, and head on out the front door to find this beauty on my neighbors rooftop across the street. There he was overlooking Derexa Pond as the sun is just rising. Still mad as a hornet, squawking that territorial call. I hear the Cardinals making their soft little noises to each other and I look up and see mama cardinal on the tip top of the oak tree peeking over at him. I am sure he can see her too, it's a direct view, but, I positioned myself in the middle of them so nothing was gonna go down in front of me... not if my life depended on it.

Singing Like Crazy

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 12:05:00 +0000

We woke to a first time visitor a Carolina Wren just singing up a storm this morning. What a pretty decibel she can hit. I went outside to investigate what she was singing about and found her jumping around in the bushline looking for bugs just having a peachy ole time. Seems the cardinals don't give a hoot either because they were in the yard but didn't chase her. Maybe because she isn't interested in their feeders. I went out and got some suet this morning at Lowes against my husbands advice. He doesn't want to attract racoons but I didn't listen to him. I spent a good hour hanging it when he wasn't home and by evening he said he liked the location...so we're all good now. Hope the little guy visits again... if not maybe the woodpeckers will find the suet before it melts in this September heat. It's sure is sweet smelling. I went ahead and had my pics identified at whatbird.com since the Carolina Wren is a first time visitor here too.

fritillary magic

noreply@blogger.com (The Backyard Oasis) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 23:14:00 +0000

The Gulf Fritillaries are super gorgeous in the yard this year. They just had the best time. I think they spent their whole life right here in the same place! Our passion vine still has chrysalises and caterpillars too. So fun and pretty to have around.