White Ibis at Wooton’s Landing

I think I’ve used the same title two days in a row. Maybe that’s a first. I went back to Wooton this morning to try for a better image of the Ibis, and I got it. Several nice birds were also there and willing to pose, which made up for the truck trouble that made it a short day.
I only had a short time for bugs, and did well enough.

White Ibis

This White Ibis was much closer than yesterday.

White Ibis White Ibis White Ibis

 

And a water snake for  good measure.

And a water snake for good measure.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

I saw at least 4 Ruby Throated Hummingbirds this morning.

Little Blue Heron

Green Heron

Several Green Herons are hanging out at Wooton.

Little Blue Heron 104

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron 102

Little Blue Heron

I saw a flock of about 10 Little Blue Herons when I entered the park.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers may be the most common migrant in the park.

Common Yellowthroat

Another juvenile Common Yellowthroat.

Goldfinch

A small flock of Goldfinches was cruising the park.

White Eyed Vireo

This White Eyed Vireo looks like he just got up.

Wasp 50

Broad Headed Sharpshooter 19

 

 

 

 

Robber Fly 7

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

White Ibis at Wooton Wetlands Park

A White Ibis was reported at Wooton, so I set out to try and find it. I was surprised to find three others also looking, as I usually have the park to myself early in the morning. Nice people, but they don’t consider the needs of photographers, and seemed to be aimlessly wandering through my shots.
I got a poor, long distance shot of this bird, which I was lucky to find at all.
Other birds and bugs were more cooperative.

 

White Eyed Vireo
White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireos can be found in most local parks in Summer.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers will migrate south in the next couple of months.

Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrashers are starting to appear.

Eastern Towhee

This Eastern Towhee sat in place for at least 10 minutes.

Indigo Bunting

This Indigo Bunting is a female.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

This Yellow Billed Cuckoo landed so close I couldn’t fit him in the frame.

Greater Yellowlegs

This is a Solitary Sandpiper.

Little Blue Heron

This Little Blue Heron is a juvenile. He’ll be blue as an adult.

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbirds don’t seem to be as numerous as last year.

Common Yellowthroat

These appear to be juvenile Common Yellowthroats.

Glossy Ibis

The Glossy Ibis isn’t rare, but it’s unusual to find one at a place like Wooton.

Dragonfly 139

Grasshopper 59

Cross Lined Wave 4

Insect 573

Dragonfly 142

Grasshopper 58

Caterpillar 137

Two Lined Spitttlebug 4

Insect 572

Fly 54

Fly 53

Caterpillar 139

Dragonfly 141

Damsel Fly 28

Pearly Wood Nymph !

Broad Headed Sharpshooter 18

Caterpillar 138

Dragonfly 140

Fly 55

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

A Cornucopia of Caterpillars at Governor Bridge Natural Area

A cool, clear morning seemed to offer good prospects,. and I arrived at Governor Bridge around dawn. I geared up for birds, but lingering clouds convinced me to switch to bugs after an hour or so.
Graeme showed up around 8:30, and we spent 3-4 hours bug hunting, and did well. I believe we got more different caterpillars than on any previous trip.

Graeme spotted this little frog.

Graeme spotted this little frog.

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Spider 143

Fly 49

Caterpillar 136

Insect 573

Grasshopper 58

Ant 24

Insect 571

Leafhopper 20

Zebra Swallowtail 11

Dragonfly 138

Spicebush Swallowtail 100

Robber Fly 6

Fly 52

Poison Ivy Sawfly 3

Caterpillar 135

Spider 145

Insect 572

Two Lined Spitttlebug 4

Damsel Fly 27

Caterpillar 137

Fly 53

Fly 54

Caterpillar 134

Caterpillar 133

Caterpillar 132

Wasp 49

Caterpillar 131

Caterpillar 130

Fly 51

Insect 570

Caterpillar 129

Caterpillar 128

Caterpillar 127

Bee 51

Rose Chafer 6

Ant 23

Caterpillar 126

Ant 22

Fly 50

Dragonfly 137

Dragonfly 136

Caterpillar 125

Caterpillar 124
Spider 143

Fly 49

Insect 569

Candystripe Leafhopper 104

Zebra Swallowtail 11

Dragonfly 138

Spicebush Swallowtail 100

Robber Fly 6

Fly 52

Poison Ivy Sawfly 3

Caterpillar 135

Caterpillar 134

Caterpillar 133

Caterpillar 132

Wasp 49

Caterpillar 131

Caterpillar 130

Fly 51

Insect 570

Caterpillar 129

Caterpillar 128

Caterpillar 127

Bee 51

Rose Chafer 6

Ant 23

Caterpillar 126

Ant 22

Fly 50

Dragonfly 137

Dragonfly 136

Caterpillar 125

Caterpillar 124

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird at Governor Bridge Natural Area

It was a little cloudy this morning, but clearing was promised, and I got to Governor Bridge around dawn. Early attempts to find bugs were slow, so I switched to birds and found a few. A bug foray later was much better.

Green Heron

This Green Heron is probably a juvenile.

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

About 8 juvenile Wood Ducks were in the cove.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

It’s not easy getting a Ruby Throated Hummingbird in flight.

Beetle 90

Insect 567

Spider 142

Assassin Bug 9

Insect 568

Wasp 48

Caterpillar 118

Caterpillar 119

Caterpillar 120

Caterpillar 121

Caterpillar 122

Ant 21

Eggs 3

Insect 566

Dragonfly 135

Japanese Beetle 107

Broad Headed Sharpshooter 17

Beetle 89

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

American Crow at Quiet Waters Park

It was raining when I awoke, so I didn’t get out until 10:00, for a very brief trip.
The crew at Quiet Waters had defoliated my favorite bug spot, so I didn’t find very much at all. A passing crow posed briefly.

Black Billed Cuckoo

I took this lat Fall at Governor Bridge and recently had occasion to look at it again. The tail and breast are wrong for a Yellow Billed Cuckoo, which I didn’t notice in my haste. It’s a Black Billed Cuckoo, and a life bird for me.

American Crow

I usually pass up crows, but this one was close, in good light.

Beetle 88

Common Buckeye 3

Insect 564

Insect 565

Caterpillar 117

Bee 48

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Caterpillars at Governor Bridge Natural Area

It was the kind of gloomy morning that makes you think twice about going out. I got to Governor Bridge about sunrise and spent some time looking for bugs, to very little effect.
I also spent some time trying to capture hummingbirds inf light, but the poor light and bad luck conspired against me.
In the end, caterpillars were my best finds.

Rain drops usually enhance an image.

Rain drops usually enhance an image.

Caterpillar 115

Insect 563

Ladybug 35

Cross Lined Wave 3

Hummingbird Clearwing 19

Hummingbird Clearwing 18

Stink Bug Nymph 1

Broad Headed Sharpshooter 16

Milkweed Beetle 2

Bee 47

Bee 46

Today's  bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Prairie Warbler at Sands Road Park

We’ve had a great run of good weather lately. When I got to Sands Road, it was in the 70s and stayed that way for several hours. I experimented with some extreme closeups for a while (It’s difficult) then walked about halfway around the big field looking for birds, and found a few. I looked for bugs a while longer, then went to Wooton and did the same.
It was a decent day.

Blue Grosbeak

This Blue Grosbeak was a little distant, but he’s worth including.

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhees can often be seen singing fro the tops of small trees.

Prairie Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Prairie Warbler

I’ve only seen a few Prairie Warblers this year.

This is a very small pine cone that appealed to me.

This is a very small pine cone that appealed to me.

Insect 561

June Bug 3

Grasshopper 56

Grasshopper 57

Caterpillar 113

Beetle 87

Beetle 86

Assassin Bug 8

Caterpillar 114

Dragonfly 134

Dragonfly 133

Tussock Moth Nymph 3

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Caterpillars at Governor Bridge Natural Area

It looked like a promising morning, slightly cloudy and cool enough. I got to the park early, and spent a couple of hours looking for birds, with no significant luck.
Oddly the bug hunting was slow as well. I’m still kicking myself for missing a couple of nice snakes.

This beetle landed on a car in the parking lot.

This beetle landed on a car in the parking lot.

 

Tussock Moth Nymph 2

Dragonfly 132

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Dragonfly Eyes at Truxtun Park

I had an appointment this morning, so I didn’t get to spend much time hunting. It was just as well, as the humidity was brutal.
I went to Truxtun early, then to Ellen Moyers Park after my appointment. I didn’t find much, but there were lots of bees and wasps.

Dragonfly

This dragonfly was perched too high to reach, but he let me move the branch into view.

Wasp 45

Beetle 84

Wasp 46

Skipper 8

Skipper 9

Insect 554

Moth 78

Rose Chafer 5

Insect 555

Moth 79

Praying Mantis 33

Wasp 47

Insect 556

Bee 45

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.