A sunny afternoon is the perfect time for this little lizard to catch some rays.
After only a few photographs, Mr. Lizard tires with all the attention. He retreats to his rock house.
Enjoy your day!
Archive for the ‘Biology’ Tag
Sunbathing Lizard Leave a comment
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle 27 comments
Yet another new insect for me to photograph! 
This impressive guy is one of the largest members of the click beetle family Elateridae! 
Mr. Beetle is not very happy with me snapping photos.
He decides to play dead for minute or two in hopes of me wonder on to the next picture.
It’s off to the next photo-op!
Enjoy your day!
Time To Bug Out Photograghy: February 20 comments
Details matter. Nature’s attention to the insect world never ceases to delight.
While chopping firewood, the strange-looking larvae start to drop from holes in the center of the hickory tree. The birds seem to relish in the special winter delicacy as if someone lifted the top off an aromatic pot of soup.
The hidden larva is from the Cerambycidae family. The Round Headed Borers larva is a new species for me to observe.
The orange spots add great color.
The various sizes do not matter to the birds. A tiny wren took flight and dropped the fatted larva food about five times before settling in to eat.
Enjoy your day!
Vapourer Moth: A Bright Male Caterpillar 28 comments
Yesterday I saw my first vapourer male moth hanging out on a rose-bush.
I think this is the ‘peacock’ of all male caterpillars that I have seen in my life to date.
A warning about the pretty vapourer moth is do not touch to your skin. The hairs can cause mild irritation to most people.
Nature never fails to amaze me.
Enjoy your day!
Eastern Box Turtle Busted: Enjoying a ripe tomato 35 comments
Turtles are on the top of my list of favorite reptiles. We have many turtles living all around our little spot called home and apparently they love tomatoes as much as I.
He does not look very pleased to have me taking his photo but I cannot help myself from capturing great pictures.
He hung around as I gathered the ripe or ripening tomatoes. He hissed a little when I picked him up for a photo. I returned him to dine on the best of the tomatoes in my garden.
Enjoy your day!
One Arm:Praying Mantis 26 comments
Well this is a first for me. 
The praying mantis is a fascinating insect. I have seen many over the years but none with a missing appendage.
Thinking he or she may need some help acquiring dinner. I used tweezers to pick up ants to offer for food.
I should feel bad for the ants but they are so invasive and their bites hurt.
The next morning the praying mantis had migrated from atop our grill cover to the screen covering our dining room window.
This morning he is gone. Safe travels my friend.
Enjoy your day!
August Outdoors 6 comments
August is one of my favorite months. The subtle changes from summer to fall seem to happen over night this year.
All the rain has made for neat fungi photos.
The mushroom aged over night. 
I planted this swamp chestnut oak four years ago to find these pretty fellas enjoying a leafy lunch.
The tree will survive the leaf-eating freaks. I wonder what pretty flying creatures morph from the pic above into the next phase of its life journey?
My new plant try of this year is the goji berry plant/bush/vine. I am impressed with the ease of care and taste of fruit.
Enjoy your day!
Sweet Plumeria 4 comments
I have been waiting for three and a half years for to see my plumeria tree blossom!
I bought a couple of plumeria tree cutting and five plumeria seeds back from a trip to Oahu in March 2009. Only one seed grew into a tree. The same with the tree cuttings.
I think both trees will flower this year.
Enjoy your day!
A Color Filled Life: Lizards Leave a comment
Lizards of all shapes and sizes cross my path daily. Occasionally a brave lizard will venture into our house. Most often I see them in the gardens and around the watering holes.
Lizards help control the insect population. I think the lizard in the pics above was just out for some sunshine.
Enjoy your day!
Fragile Wings: First Fly 6 comments
Who doesn’t love to watch baby birds feed and practice flying?
We startled two darling fledgling birds from their cozy nest in our workshop to their first flight early this morning.
Enjoy your day!
