Thursday, June 30, 2011

In the Meadow

It was hot in the meadow this morning. By noon I was roasting, but I was able to get some photos. Since the big weekend is close I will wait a few days to go back. This afternoon I was working in the garden and watching a Clear Wing Hummingbird moth feed. Love to watch these little moths.


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Robber Flies

Bee-like Robber Fly - Laphria thoracica

Well something about the meadow keeps pulling me back. I'm totally in awe at the insect and wildflowers I am finding this year. Today was no different. As I was shooting the daisies this very cool looking robber fly landed. It was my second look at one of these this year.



 It was a perfect day out there and I was able to photograph many butterflies and other subjects. I will be going back in a few days to see what new is out there to discover.

 Meadow Meets Forest

Monday, June 27, 2011

Rain!

Well it is raining again today, but at least it is a warm rain.
As of today I have nine species of spiders in my yard and garden. I know I will find more and looking forward to it. the Golden-rod Crab Spider found a good hiding place and was waiting for some food when I found it today. Later this afternoon it had made a dinner out of a Rose Chafer. Score one for the spider...
Golden-rod Crab Spider
A favorite of mine has made a web and laid a clutch of eggs...
Six-spotted Orb Weaver
Six-spotted Orb Weaver
She will stay with the eggs until they hatch and than she will leave.
I also had a cool visitor to my garden today. This Eastern Pine Elfin stopped by to feed.
I will be keeping a close eye on the orb weaver and eggs.


Sunday, June 26, 2011

A short visit

I did a short visit to the meadows today...way to many deer flies.
However, I did get the photos I wanted at least enough to make me happy. The wildflowers are in full bloom and more blooming everyday. I plan on going back Tuesday if the weather is nice.
This Deptford Pink is growing every where and is so beautiful.
The Hare Bells are just starting to bloom.


The Ox-eye Daisies are in abundance. I love to sit in the middle of them and just take in the beauty. 
I also added a new bird species to my life list today...
Blue-winged Warbler
Also one of the resident garden spiders...Six-spotted Orb weaver has a web and it's eggs on one of the lilac bushes. More on this in a later post.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Great Morning

It was  abit windy when I arrived to the meadows, but it was better than not going. I was able to photograph a mating pair of Common Green Darners.
Common Green Darner - Anax junius
They were not in the best spot to get a good background, but I still took the shot. It's not everyday when you can get this close to them. I also photographed a new species of moth that I can add to my life list.
Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth
I did photograph many other subjects and I am going back early in the morning in hopes to beat the wind.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Rain and Macro Again!

It rained most of the day...and heavy. So I only got out a few times, but I did get a few nice shots.


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wet and Damp Day!

Most of the day it rained and between rain showers and the storms the sun came out. I was able to get out and take some photos of the insects and other subjects around my garden. Had three red-spotted purples visit the mock orange bush today and one hummingbird moth. Many bees and other insects stopped by also.



Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Little Visitor

I was surprised to find the Bold Jumper Spider again today. Almost in the same place as I did before, but this time at the top of a Common Mullein trying to hide. I was only able to get a few shots before it jumped and disappeared again. Been raining on and off all day so did not get our side much. I did photograph some Clearwing Hummingbird Moths.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Last Day of Spring 2011

Well Summer starts tomorrow and I'm ready for it.
Today I stayed around the house and did some gardening and spent a few hours around the yard taking photos. The Mock Orange Bush is in full bloom now and the bees and other insects are working it like crazy. It is buzzing with life and the smell form the flowers is so awesome. In the evening it blows in the window...such a sweet smell. Another one of my favorite butterflies stopped by to enjoy the sweet nectar. 
The Red-spotted Purple
Also the Mossy Stonecrop is now in bloom and I plan on moving some of it to my rock garden. It adds a great color to the garden. It don't get tall, but sure is bright yellow.
The Bird'sfoot Trefoil is starting to bloom and it is another yellow flower that adds some beauty to the yard.


Sunday, June 19, 2011

Birthday Images

Well I turned one year older today...no big deal. I don't feel any different.
Anyways I went out to the meadow for a short time today and took a few images. Mostly I wanted to see what was blooming or what new insect species I could find. I ended up shooting mostly daisies today. I did locate another American Copper and took some shots of it. I will not be going back to the meadow for a few days, because I need to check on some other locations. So here is two images from the meadow.


Saturday, June 18, 2011

This will be short

Not much happened today...not up to speed today. I stayed around the house and photographed the insect life on the mock orange bush. Such a nice day, but when you don't feel good you must listen to your body.
Here are a few images form today...
 Clearwing Hummingbird Moth
 Mock Orange Flower
Bluebird Sky

Friday, June 17, 2011

New Spider Species

Well after I got home from the meadow I uploaded all the images and as I was doing that I heard the hummingbirds raising a fuss by the feeder. So I went to have a look and on one of the feeder holes was this huge spider. I ran inside and grabbed my camera and when I returned it was gone. I knew it could not have gotten far, but to my surprise it was about 2 feet away sitting on a leaf. I set up my tripod and attached the camera with my 100 mm macro. I moved in slowly so I would not spook it, but as I got close it jumped at the camera  lens. I was in awe as I watched this huge jumping spider raise a fuss. After about 5 minutes it settled down and I started to shoot. When I started to use flash it really raised a fuss. It would raise it's front legs and leap forward. After about 30 minutes it decided it had enough of me and the camera and leaped into the lilies. I lost sight of it and was happy to have this awesome encounter with a new species. The next step was to ID it...this proved a tad bit hard, because there are a number of jumping spider species. After a long search I found the species...
Phidippus audax (Bold jumper Spider)


This spider was 1/2 inches long.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Failed Sunset...

I was hoping for some great sunset light tonight, but the clouds cleared in 30 minutes, so I came home to search for spiders in the garden. Tomorrow I am planning on going to the meadow again. I never get tired of going there...so much to see and photograph.
Black Berry Flowers
Not much to really write about this evening, but I did find a Male Six-spotted Orb Weaver.
Six-spotted Orb weaver

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Return to the Meadow

I went back to the meadow for the third day in a row and today was the best yet.
Six species of butterflies and 5 dragonfly species. Many birds singing and enjoyed the fresh taste of wild strawberries. YUM!!!
As I was photographing the berries I noticed some wild rose's near by and moved over to photograph them. So I moved my tripod and laid back on the ground and when I got up I realized I squished a bunch of berries on my white shirt. So I really got into photography today.
The first image is the wild rose before it opens.
This next image has some visitors.
Syrphid Flies enjoying the rose.
After I was done photographing the rose I moved back to a spot where I had seen two American Coppers the day before. So I sat down and watched, but nothing. So I walked around and one flew up and the chase was on. First I tried to use my macro lens to get close, but it would not have nothing to do with me getting close. So I attached a 36mm extension tube to my 300mm lens and was able to get a few decent shots. After about and hour it flew off and I could not locate it again.

Going to rain tonight and some tomorrow so I won't make it back out there until at least Friday. There is so much to photograph there and I still have not explored the full swamp and near by woods.


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Beautiful Day!!

It was a great day to be outside. I spent about 4 hours today in the meadows and swamps searching for subjects to photograph. Many species flying around and many wildflowers. I plan on going back again tomorrow...just can't get enough of the outside and the beauty of the wilds. I added a two new species to my butterfly list today. The Eastern Pine Elfin and Common Ringlet.
Common Ringlet
I hope to find them again and get some better shots. They are so hard to get close too...
Here are a few more images I took today.
 Yellow Goat's Beard
Wild Columbine

Monday, June 13, 2011

Great Afternoon

I spent a few hours in a swampy meadow this afternoon. Many dragonflies, butterflies and wildflowers. The only thing it was really windy, so I did not get many photos. I am planning on going back again tomorrow. Here are just a few I photographed...
 Blue Flag Iris
 Common Stretch Spider
Blue-eyed Grass




Sunday, June 12, 2011

I'm Back

Been a few days since I last posted anything.
 Been busy with company and the weather has been nasty, so I have not got out and done much photography. I was able to get out in the yard this afternoon and do a bit of shooting. It is slowly warming up again, so I will be out shooting photos again. This first image is some sort of bee, but not sure what yet. Still working on trying to ID it.
This next image is one of my garden flowers that I have no idea what it is called. So trying to ID this also. It grows every year in a different location. This year it is growing in two places.


Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Time on the AuSable River

Had a wonderful time on the river. We started Tuesday morning at 9:45 am from Chase bridge and floated down river to Rainbowbend State Fores Campground. It was awesome the first day...hot and sunny. Not many wildlife photos or scenery photos, because it was just way to hot and nothing look invited to photograph. However my Cousin Nick had a great time as well. We stopped and had lunch at the George Mason Chapel and went swimming to cool off. The bugs were very bad at the start, but got better as we floated on down river. Seen wildlife and many bird species. Today as we headed home it was just as fun. We ended our trip at 1:45pm at Campten Bridge on the Mio Pond. Here are a few images of Nick and coming soon will be a video of the trip.
 Making Lunch at the Chapel
 Coming down the steps at Conner's Flats
 Preparing to swim at Conner's Flats
 Having some fun at Rainbow Bend State Forest Campground
Relaxing while floating down the river below Parmalee Bridge.