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On My Hike This Morning
Out on my hike, taking in all that Mother Nature has to show me this morning. Something catches my eye. It’s a Larger Elm Leaf Beetle (Monocesta coryli). A beautiful beetle in its remarkable colors, various shades of yellow and metalic blue-green. No surprise this beetle is often found on Elm trees but also on…
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Dr Seuss Flowers
Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) It seems to be a flower from a drawing by Dr Seuss and certainly one designed just for my Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. It’s a flower that always makes me think of fireworks and the 4th of July. Native to eastern North America, it’s a perennial plant that is 2 to 4 feet…
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A Very Tall Wildflower
Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), an herbaceous perennial that can grow to 5 – 7 feet tall. A member of the Aster family (Asteraceae) which is native to eastern and central North America. The nectar and pollen of the Woodland Sunflower are quite popular with a wide variety of insects including bees, butterflies and skippers, flies,…
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One Of The Longhorn Beetles
A Zebra Long-horned Beetle (Typocerus zebra), chowing down on the pollen and nectar of a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). This is what all adult Long-horned Beetles eat, just the pollen and nectar of flowers. Their size is about 1/2 inch. And they are believed to be harmless. The larval host of these beetles are pine…
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Feeding The Babies
I caught the action today as mom and dad Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) were occupied feeding the little ones. Going out and coming back with butterfly and moth larvae, insects, snails, spiders, berries and seeds. Carrying a medium sized spider, going in for the nestlings. And now, off in search of more. ________________________________ If you…
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After More Than A Year
A Black Bear (Ursus americanus) meandered to the cabin today, after an absence of any bears for a bit more than a year. And before that there had not been a bear here for three years. Not a one. This absence was caused by a serious outbreak of sarcoptic mange. Seems slowly the bears around…
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Patiently Waiting
On the front porch, in a small, faded red, star shaped bird house, nestlings wait for mom and dad to return with some dinner. Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus). The eggs of Carolina Wrens usually hatch after 12 to 16 days of incubation. The female incubates the eggs and the male will feed her. Once the…
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Bunnies, Many Bunnies!
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), or simply, a Bunny. They are quite common to see right now, big ones, little ones. They love to eat clover but many other things as well. If you have a favorite plant with lots of weeds around it, you might consider leaving the weeds. Removing the weeds calls the…
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Perfect For Hummingbirds
Flowers that seem to have been designed specifically for hummingbirds. Utah Penstemon (Penstemon utahensis). A beautiful and very determined plant that I’ve seen on many trips to the Southwest. These flowers were found at Zion National Park, Utah. Utah Penstemon can be found in southern Utah, northern Arizona, and southern Nevada, and small neighboring areas…