Piperbarb's 2013 Project 365

[piperbarb]

7-12-13:

Another day of nature shots. I actually had planned on a bug hunt. I ended up with more than bug photos.


Since the weather has been so rainy and humid lately, it's ideal mushroom growing weather. I would not call this mushroom photo a bug photo, but it definitely has been gnawed on by bugs and slugs.

Someone's Snack



Okay, here is my one official bug hunt bug photo. If you look closely, you will see that there are two bugs.

Even Bugs Do It



I just loved the way the sun shone through these honeysuckle berries. The berries have a slight translucence that just made the photo.

Almost Ripe



We have a young bluebird that has been hanging around and singing away. This guy was on one of our electric wires. As I got closer to it, it would move away from me to the next wire, and then finally the tree branch. I felt like a bird stalker. I liked this image of the little guy.

Bluebird

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

7-12-13:

Another day of nature shots. I actually had planned on a bug hunt. I ended up with more than bug photos.


Since the weather has been so rainy and humid lately, it's ideal mushroom growing weather. I would not call this mushroom photo a bug photo, but it definitely has been gnawed on by bugs and slugs.

Someone's Snack
View attachment 43659


Okay, here is my one official bug hunt bug photo. If you look closely, you will see that there are two bugs.

Even Bugs Do It
View attachment 43660


I just loved the way the sun shone through these honeysuckle berries. The berries have a slight translucence that just made the photo.

Almost Ripe
View attachment 43661


We have a young bluebird that has been hanging around and singing away. This guy was on one of our electric wires. As I got closer to it, it would move away from me to the next wire, and then finally the tree branch. I felt like a bird stalker. I liked this image of the little guy.

Bluebird
View attachment 43662

Nice collection today!

 

[piperbarb]

Don,

Thanks. I'm especially pleased with the bluebird. I was stalking him for about 10 minutes. My spousal unit watched me stalk the little guy and said I was definitely bird stalking. . I think it's the same one that I photographed yesterday. He was in a different pine tree this time.

 

[piperbarb]

7-13-13:

We have a new visitor to the bird feeder: a neighborhood chipmunk. Today was the first time I have seen it at the bird feeder. This little guy was having a field day with seed all morning long. He'd stuff his cheeks, run down the tree and go back to his burrow. A few minutes later, he'd be back again. Below are photos of him. In the first photo, you can see that he's stuffed his cheeks and on his way home.

It's Never Too Early


Back for More



This blue jay was really ticked off because we have the lever set for small critters and this one is way too heavy.

Quick Snack....Not

 

[Roy1961]

nice Barbara, like the chipmonk

 

[nikonpup]

so which one is it set for, blue jay or chipmunk? Feeder looks the same to me in both photos.
Homemade or store bought? I have seen some amazing videos on what squirrels will go thru to get to a feeder.

 

[piperbarb]

nice Barbara, like the chipmonk

Thanks, so do I. He is really very cute.

 

[piperbarb]

so which one is it set for, blue jay or chipmunk? Feeder looks the same to me in both photos.
Homemade or store bought? I have seen some amazing videos on what squirrels will go thru to get to a feeder.

It's supposed to be set for small birds, at least, that's what my husband said. Anything larger than sparrows, finches and cardinals (I think), and the like should close it. I think the chipmunk is in the small bird weight class, at least for now.

The blue jay was really ticked off because when it landed on the lever, it closed off the food.

I bought the feeder at the wild bird accouterments store. I was told it was squirrel resistant. After the bear pulled down the original bracket, my spousal unit fabricated a new bracket that is attached to the tree and a lot sturdier.

 

[piperbarb]

7-14-13:

It was Africa-hot outside when I decided to take some photos. Great for dragonflies, not so great for the rest of us.

On my way through our woods to my neighbor's pond, I came across another brown-capped mushroom that has been fodder for some little critter.

Someone Was Hungry



My next-door neighbor's pond provides a wealth of photos for me. Today it was dragonflies. I have seen at least 4 different species of dragonflies at the pond. Today, I have examples of two.

First the red dragonfly:

Taking a Break


Hanging Out



Now the blue dragonfly. I do wish the dragonfly was more in focus but I still like the photo.

Ready for Take-Off

 

[piperbarb]

7-14-13: Addendum

We have a new visitor to our bird feeder: a red squirrel. So far, this little guy hasn't had much luck. It's just a little too heavy for the lever. I looked out the kitchen window and saw it trying to get some of the seed. When I walked outside onto the porch with my camera, the squirrel had moved to the top of the feeder, looking very, very guilty.

Caught!

 

[Rick M]

Nice shots, small animal drama around the bird feeder!

 

[piperbarb]

Nice shots, small animal drama around the bird feeder!

Rick, thanks. As of this morning the drama continued. I saw a pair of rabbits eating the seeds that fell on the ground that the chipmunk was knocking out. Yes, we have a very interesting bird feeder community.

 

[piperbarb]

7-15-13:

So much for plans. I thought I'd camp out near the bird feeder this afternoon. Instead of birds and other assorted critters, I ended up on an unintentional bug safari. The Russian comfrey is still blooming and continually attracts bumblebees and skippers. Here are a few of the images I captured.

Pollinating Pair


I was so busy looking at the quality of this photo, that I did not even see the daddy long legs sitting on the leaf. It was only after the third time I looked at the image did I see it. So much for the powers of observation and attention to detail.

Busy Bumblebee


Life is Grand


Notice the bumblebee in the background.

Next Flower, Please

 

[piperbarb]

7-16-13:

Bird feeder drama continues. I took these two photos of our neighborhood red squirrel, above the bird feeder on the tree, as I was walking out the door this morning to go to work.

Checking Out Breakfast


Just Waiting a Moment


Both photos were taken with my D7000 at ISO 500, AF 55-200mm non-VR lens, f/5.6, and 1/160s and 1/100s, respectively.

 

[ohkphoto]

Nice shots! Your squirrels are so much prettier than the ones we have here in New Mexico . . . a boring gray!

 

[piperbarb]

Nice shots! Your squirrels are so much prettier than the ones we have here in New Mexico . . . a boring gray!

Helene,

Thanks. We have lots of grey squirrels around here, too. In fact, this is the first year I have seen red squirrels in my back yard, and I have lived here for 21 years. I haven't seen as many grey squirrels lately, and our rabbit population is down. I think the red & grey foxes and coyotes have depleted the population. Now if they could only do something about the incredible deer population around here.

 

[ohkphoto]

Helene,

I haven't seen as many grey squirrels lately, and our rabbit population is down. I think the red & grey foxes and coyotes have depleted the population. Now if they could only do something about the incredible deer population around here.

That's because they're all here in my yard eating all my flowers and tomatoes! . . . and we have the same problem with the deer . . . sigh . . . if I don't plant it close to the house where the dogs are, the deer eat it. I guess they have to eat, too.

 

[piperbarb]

That's because they're all here in my yard eating all my flowers and tomatoes! . . . and we have the same problem with the deer . . . sigh . . . if I don't plant it close to the house where the dogs are, the deer eat it. I guess they have to eat, too.

The deer around here are not afraid of anything. I have just about given up on a garden. They even ate my day lilies this year!! Why can't they eat the ones on the side of the road. Why do they always eat mine. We do have a herd of 16 deer that traverse the neighborhood. We even have a doe with triplets!

 

[ohkphoto]

We even have a doe with triplets!

Have you been able to get a photo? That's quite unusual, isn;t it? A lot of Texans have summer homes in the area and they think it's wonderful to feed the deer. So you drive through town and there are herds of deer laying around and grazing on the lawns and flowers. Not afraid of much, including cars.

 

[piperbarb]

7-17-13:

With a heat warning until 8:00 p.m., it is way too hot out for both human & beast, except, of course, this damselfly, which decided to land on the porch step. I love the almost monochromatic look of this image, plus how this critter's shadow looked on the step.

Sunbaking


This image was taken with my D7000, AF 55-200mm non-VR lens, ISO 250, f/7.1, 1/1000 s.