Grackle On The Rail

Pink Cattleheart, I

The Pink Cattleheart is a large, black butterfly with striking red, pink and white markings.

Ailanthus Webworm Moth

This Ailanthus Webworm Moth was making its way among wildflowers when I saw it in early September.

Eastern Carpenter Bee on Wildflowers I

The Eastern Carpenter Bee is easily confused with the American Bumble Bee.  While the bumble bee is covered covered in fuzzy hair, the carpenter bee is missing the fuzz from its abdomen.

Before The Nap

After a busy morning decorating the house for the holidays Stella decided it was time for an afternoon nap.

Raven Taking Flight

wildlifehub

I saw this raven land on the stump and was hoping to photograph it when it took off.  Luckily it didn’t sit there too long so I was ready when it took flight.

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Mason Wasp

When I think of the color of bees and wasps, I think of yellows, oranges, and reds.  This little Mason Wasp is black and white with beautiful blue wings.  Sadly, it flew away before I could get a another photo showing more of the wing.  From what I’ve read, they mainly feed on nectar and caterpillars.

American Coots

The American Coot is a rather funny looking bird.  They break the old rule that says “if it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it must be a duck”.  They are actually more closely related to rails and cranes.  When you get a good look at their feet, which are not webbed, you realize they must not be ducks.

Bumble Bee on Redbud

Over the weekend I sat on my roof to get a better view of the bumble bees pollenating our redbud tree.  These trees never cease to amaze me.  They are in full bloom in Richmond and quite beautiful right now.  The bees will be all over them for the next few weeks.  Some of the birds will even eat the flowers.  Then, late in the summer they will start to produce seed pods and become nature’s perfect bird feeder.  Of course the trees benefit immensely from feeding the birds.  We have one full sized tree in our yard and we must get a hundred saplings sprout up every year.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Color

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly feeds on henbit and buttercups along the Washington Ditch in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge near Suffolk, Virginia.