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.

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.

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

Busy Day

Going to be busy the next few days preparing for a canoeing trip. So I might not be posting as much. Anyways here are a few shots from today...

 Golden-rod Crab Spider

Mating pair of six-spotted tiger beetles.

Sunset

Had a very busy day...

I decided to go get a few more shots of the Pink lady's Slipper.

I also spent a few hours doing some yard work and photographing around the yard. The rain Lilies are starting to bloom. I have the white kind and the are really beautiful.

The spiders are out and about and hungry. This Flower spider is making a meal out of this moth.

To end my day I went down to the pond in hopes of a great sunset, but the clouds moved in quick and was only able to get a few shots. Plus my new photo back pack came today and I love it.

New Life Bird...

Golden-winged Warbler....new life bird.

Did some birding this afternoon with some friends...one new life bird made my day.

First we heard it's buzzy "zee bee bee bee"

Then the search was on. 5 minutes later we found the little guy singing from the lower branch of a pear tree. We all tried getting photos, but it flew deeper into the bush. We seen 58 species this afternoon...it was a great afternoon. Here are a  few images from today...

 Syrphid Fly

 Flower Spider

Flesh Fly

No Photos Today!

Windy is the only thing I can say about today.

We lost power for a few hours and limbs down everywhere.

So I worked on my images today until we lost power.

Here are a couple spider images...this same Golden-rod Crab Spider found a great spot to get it's meals. I watched this same spider for 4 days and it never ran out of prey. Flies, moths, bees lost there lives to this spider. I really enjoy spiders and watching them can be exciting. They are not always easy to find and sometimes I have to wait for them to move. My favorite spider that can be found in my garden is this spider that you see enjoying a good meal.

Windy Day

Well it looks like we missed the storms today.

The wind today is very strong so made for photography a little difficult.

last night I had a great time chasing moths and other night flying insects.

 Flower Spider

Common Spring Moth

Also you can watch some photo/video's on my You Tube Channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/NaturesDetails?feature=mhum

Spider and Slipper

A very warm day...

Well this morning I found this Running Crab Spider feeding on a Leaf Hopper in my garden. This is one of the 9 species of spiders I have in my garden. This species is my 3rd favorite of the local spiders.

This evening I rode down by the park and photographed some Pink Lady's Slippers. I counted 58 of them and decided to shot this one. I need to get some arm pads or where a longer shirt when I get this low to the ground. This one slipper has been growing in the same spot since 2005 when I first found it. They can live  along time if they are not disturbed.

Jumping Spider

Today was another beautiful spring day. The high reached 55 degrees and it brought out a few spiders. This jumping spider made his appearance on a rock next to my pond. I was only able to get one quick shot. Jumping spiders don't hold still long, but once in awhile I find one that will hold still for some shots. Jumping spiders are one of the first species to come out in the spring followed by the wolf spider. Every year I search for them and enjoy watching them. They fascinate me and the closer I get to them the better. Going to do a little more spider photography this year than I have done in the past. The season has just begun and I'm loving every minute of it.

Showing Life in an Image

The two images you see here are of the same Running Crab Spider. They were taken in the midday light...best time to find these fast little spiders. When I shoot spiders, insects...etc. I try to show some kind of life (movement) in the subject. The first image is simple and straight forward. The second one gives the spider a sense of life. What I mean by this...the spider is on the edge of the lily leaf about to go underneath it. Instead of showing a plain and simple shot of a spider I chose to give the subject a sense of life by waiting for it to move into a more interesting place. Sometimes I wait for a spider to move into the right spot to give it a sense of life. Not all spiders are easy to do this with, so I look for a way to give the spider a sense of belonging to it's surroundings. Like a spider feeding on an insect or spinning a web. Jumping spiders are a real challenge. They don't like to hold still long, so you must be quick like them. The world of the spider is interesting so get out there and take a closer look.

Around the Yard

Was a long hot day today, but I did get out and take a few images...Plan on going to the beach tomorrow. Anyways the photo of the Phidippus Putnami or Jumping Spider was taken in my driveway. The little spider would not stay still long...so was only able to get one shot worth keeping.

The Treehopper was photographed in my garden...I think there was a big hatching of them. They are everywhere.

Jumping Spider

I was putting in a pump in my pond when this little jumping spider decided to watch me. So I took some photos of this little spider. It's turned cold again and snow is forcasted for this weekend. It's Michigan...wait five minutes and the weather changes.

Another Peeper Show

"We are connected to the land and to the animals, in spirit, we are one. Our ties with the land and animals help us survive. Listen and feel for the ancestors' guidance. We are all connected."
                                                                                          -Andrew F. Abyo

1. Spring Peeper
2. Spring Peeper
3. Fringed Polygala
4.Running Crab Spider on Tulip

In the Garden

The spiders and insects are really starting to appear. This Funnel Web spider is number two that I have seen so far this year. I have identified 9 species in my garden...

Getting Garden Ready

Goldenrod Crab Spider enjoying lunch
Getting my garden ready for the season. Rebuilding all my rock gardens.
I know the insects and spiders will enjoy it.