Sadly the carpenter bees are the only ones I really see around here anymore.
Don't see many butterflies either. For a while every year I would see like swarms of these smaller whiteish yellow coloured ones. Would see them along the highways and of course....
Don't see as many anymore. Makes me almost want to blame cars and highways as many that are smashed every year.
We don't even seem to get the swarms of lovebugs we use to get.
Many of the residents of Stone Creek have and are making an effort to plant plants that will draw and help butterflies and bees. There is now milkweed planted around the complex as a result of hundreds of Monarch butterflies and numerous other types of butterflies are now regulars around here and we are starting to see more bees as well.
Amazing how a small effort by dozens of people have made a dramatic change there.
Sadly the carpenter bees are the only ones I really see around here anymore.
They must have all moved to my yard. There must be ten at any given time buzzing around me on my deck. They like to just hang in mid air in front of your face and stare at you.
One of my mother's sisters was married to a carpenter. He was the sweetest, gentlest person I ever knew and didn't look a bit like that black carpenter bee.
No, that's the only one. It's in Zijingshan Park near downtown Zhengzhou. I spent a lot of time in that park, often on Sunday mornings for English Corner.
Arvo..this is an Emperor Gum moth..use to be around in the Summer when we were kids but over the years seem to have disappeared..
They mainly live in the Eastern side of Victoria in the mountains but fly to the Western half of the State which is hundreds of kilometres away. Their wing span is up to 15 centimetres wide...
I miss them....in the Summer you always knew Christmas was not far away when you saw them fluttering around the lights...
I haven't shown off the office 6g nano tank for awhile. It's nothing spectacular or anything, but it's doing well. I've managed to keep the pothos and monstera plants alive which is a first for me. The fish are doing their thing especially the Endler's Live Bearers. They just keep popping out babies and I'll soon have to relocate a few. I really don't do much, but I think I'll do a cleaning on the glass and a water change today. I do this about every month... I'm planning on swapping this out before the end of summer with a 10g shallow riparium build just to keep things fresh. On the whole this has been a good conversation piece with the company customers while they wait for their appointments.
Since we are a well-regulated community, Pond Hours are 9am to 6pm and they are waiting for the bell to strike 9am. The Canadian Geese try to circumvent the rules and will make a rush to the pond before hours. But, we understand they are from Canada so we keep them in order by threating to revoke their birdports.
I think that their version of politeness and our version of politeness differs a great deal.
Example: We have requested that they not poop on people's lawns, do they listen...Nooooooo they poop all over the lawns. We also request that there is no ''honking'' after 9 pm do they listen, Noooooo they honk after 9 pm before 6 am they are honking maniacs. Here a honk, there a honk everywhere a honk honk.
So, you can see why we have to threaten from time to time to rescind their birdports.
The Canada geese are doing you a favour by fertilizing the grass on your golf courses and parks. As for their honking, why discriminate against them when everybody's so happy if the hooping cranes hoop at any time.
Sadly, their poop kills the grass on the greens at the golf course and they do little to fertilize our lawns since their poop also kills lawns.
Now, I'm not sure what a hooping crane is, but could you be talking about Whooping Cranes? If so there are less than 1,000 in the world and there are 1,000 Canadian Geese in our complex.
Oooops! Where did the "W" go? Of course they're Whooping cranes, and you're right, they are in much diminished numbers, so hopefully the hunters would lay off them. All those Canada geese in your complex? They must really like you.
No this one doesn't play. I do have a short video with these bees. I was trying to isolate one frame to make a still pic but as you can see I haven't accomplished that yet, lol.
have a teenager show you how. my daughter used to park my mac in a place I couldn't undo knowing that I would ask for her help. then she'd extort $20 from me to clear up the problem.
A little while ago I was sitting outside watching a pair of blue jays building a nest on a branch overhanging the driveway. It looks like they've used part of a plastic grocery bag in it, woven in with twigs and moss, which kind of sucks, but I hope they end up laying eggs there. I'll have a pretty good view of them feeding chicks if they do.
I had a little family in a light fixture out front one year. I guess they got use to me as when I would walk by sometimes the chicks would rise up at me, mouths open. I was a little sad when they finally left.
Besides the high quality of that photo, those were the colours for the football team in the city I was born and grew up in, the Hamilton (Ontario) Tiger Cats. "Oskiweewee, oskiwawaw, tigercats, eat 'em raw."
Take time to remember those that gave their future so that others may have one.
Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam 1965.. 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, a trooper lifts his battle-weary eyes to the heavens as if to ask why? Another trooper stares down at their fallen comrade. The day's battle ended, and they silently await the helicopter which will evacuate their comrade from the jungle-covered hills.
The Vietnam War was terrible and I hated it, however, we can, and should, honor those who sacrificed for us in any war. Memorial Day is not about romanticizing war. It's about honoring those who died, and those, like our beloved friend, Kavika, who selflessly served us all.
I'm the same age as you, for a few more days, and I also had a fairly low draft number. My draft card may still be around somewhere
Wow! I've never seen one like that before. Had to go look it up. The internet says it's a zebra longwing, or also called a zebra heliconian. Cool butterfly.
I saw some a few months ago, but I'd never seen anything like them before. Thanks for finding out what they are named. Zebra Longwing, is a fitting name.
First things First - check the article at the link below.
Thank you for that link.
POLLINATOR - an insect or other agent that conveys pollen to a plant and so allows fertilization .
Nice image of a pollinator.
Black Carpenter Bee, Stone Creek Ocala, FL.
Sadly the carpenter bees are the only ones I really see around here anymore.
Don't see many butterflies either. For a while every year I would see like swarms of these smaller whiteish yellow coloured ones. Would see them along the highways and of course....
Don't see as many anymore. Makes me almost want to blame cars and highways as many that are smashed every year.
We don't even seem to get the swarms of lovebugs we use to get.
Sorry to sound sad and negative.
We are losing so many species at an alarming rate, so what you posted is no surprise.
Many of the residents of Stone Creek have and are making an effort to plant plants that will draw and help butterflies and bees. There is now milkweed planted around the complex as a result of hundreds of Monarch butterflies and numerous other types of butterflies are now regulars around here and we are starting to see more bees as well.
Amazing how a small effort by dozens of people have made a dramatic change there.
Sadly the carpenter bees are the only ones I really see around here anymore.
They must have all moved to my yard. There must be ten at any given time buzzing around me on my deck. They like to just hang in mid air in front of your face and stare at you.
One of my mother's sisters was married to a carpenter. He was the sweetest, gentlest person I ever knew and didn't look a bit like that black carpenter bee.
What do butterflies have to do with butter?
.
.
The butterfly window is fantastic. Have you ever seen any other butterfly windows?
No, that's the only one. It's in Zijingshan Park near downtown Zhengzhou. I spent a lot of time in that park, often on Sunday mornings for English Corner.
I did find this one. A couple of years old.
I didn't think they lived that long. (sorry, bad joke)
Yep certainly is Buzz..😁
That's a Rosy Maple Moth.
Arvo..this is an Emperor Gum moth..use to be around in the Summer when we were kids but over the years seem to have disappeared..
They mainly live in the Eastern side of Victoria in the mountains but fly to the Western half of the State which is hundreds of kilometres away. Their wing span is up to 15 centimetres wide...
I miss them....in the Summer you always knew Christmas was not far away when you saw them fluttering around the lights...
Not my photo.
It's a beauty.
Beautiful, shona.
I haven't shown off the office 6g nano tank for awhile. It's nothing spectacular or anything, but it's doing well. I've managed to keep the pothos and monstera plants alive which is a first for me. The fish are doing their thing especially the Endler's Live Bearers. They just keep popping out babies and I'll soon have to relocate a few. I really don't do much, but I think I'll do a cleaning on the glass and a water change today. I do this about every month... I'm planning on swapping this out before the end of summer with a 10g shallow riparium build just to keep things fresh. On the whole this has been a good conversation piece with the company customers while they wait for their appointments.
I'm sure the fish appreciate your dedication.
The Great Buddha of Kamakura
A wonderful concept wonderfully edited and presented.
Thank you!
This one is really nice !
Thanks, Pat.
It's a pond party at Stone Creek.
They would go well in the roasting dish..😁🍗🍗
If it's a pond party, why aren't any of them in the pond?
Crocs.. if it was here..
Since we are a well-regulated community, Pond Hours are 9am to 6pm and they are waiting for the bell to strike 9am. The Canadian Geese try to circumvent the rules and will make a rush to the pond before hours. But, we understand they are from Canada so we keep them in order by threating to revoke their birdports.
Of course, but the Canada geese might not be as aware of what they are.
Wait a sec. You know that Canada geese are more polite than the usual bunch.
I think that their version of politeness and our version of politeness differs a great deal.
Example: We have requested that they not poop on people's lawns, do they listen...Nooooooo they poop all over the lawns. We also request that there is no ''honking'' after 9 pm do they listen, Noooooo they honk after 9 pm before 6 am they are honking maniacs. Here a honk, there a honk everywhere a honk honk.
So, you can see why we have to threaten from time to time to rescind their birdports.
The Canada geese are doing you a favour by fertilizing the grass on your golf courses and parks. As for their honking, why discriminate against them when everybody's so happy if the hooping cranes hoop at any time.
Sadly, their poop kills the grass on the greens at the golf course and they do little to fertilize our lawns since their poop also kills lawns.
Now, I'm not sure what a hooping crane is, but could you be talking about Whooping Cranes? If so there are less than 1,000 in the world and there are 1,000 Canadian Geese in our complex.
Numbers matter...LOL
Oooops! Where did the "W" go? Of course they're Whooping cranes, and you're right, they are in much diminished numbers, so hopefully the hunters would lay off them. All those Canada geese in your complex? They must really like you.
I'm a likable guy.
A Bee on a Lavender Flower
That's some big bee - the flower probably just put up its petals and said "I surrender - take as much as you want."
Ok, I'll play along. Maybe someone (Kavika!) could write a story about "Bigby the Big Bee".
What a great idea, and I love Bigby the Big Bee name.
Cool.
Tropical Queen Butterfly
© A. Mac/A.G.
great composition.
Coming in for a landing?
Have yet to figure out how to get a still pic from a phone video.
Was the one with the bee meant to play? Even if it doesn't it's a great still shot.
No this one doesn't play. I do have a short video with these bees. I was trying to isolate one frame to make a still pic but as you can see I haven't accomplished that yet, lol.
have a teenager show you how. my daughter used to park my mac in a place I couldn't undo knowing that I would ask for her help. then she'd extort $20 from me to clear up the problem.
Ha !
she still runs my life...
Fantastic photos - if they were that size in real life they would probably take over the world.
A great spangled fritillary on a lily, blowing pollen into the air with its wings. See the pollen floating around?
A hummer looking for nectar. My camera thought it was too shady there for a fast shutter, so blurry wings it is.
I need to sit outside today. They are mowing the lawn right now. Usually after I will at least have a couple of birds looking for a dug up snack.
A little while ago I was sitting outside watching a pair of blue jays building a nest on a branch overhanging the driveway. It looks like they've used part of a plastic grocery bag in it, woven in with twigs and moss, which kind of sucks, but I hope they end up laying eggs there. I'll have a pretty good view of them feeding chicks if they do.
Pics a coming. Haha
I had a little family in a light fixture out front one year. I guess they got use to me as when I would walk by sometimes the chicks would rise up at me, mouths open. I was a little sad when they finally left.
Until I had to clean up the mess....
Yes, I can see some pollen. As for the hummingbird's wings, they're actually exceptionally fast for most shutters.
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
© A. Mac/A.G.
That is a fantastic photo. All three of the butterfly photos you posted this week are amazing.
That one is beautiful.
Besides the high quality of that photo, those were the colours for the football team in the city I was born and grew up in, the Hamilton (Ontario) Tiger Cats. "Oskiweewee, oskiwawaw, tigercats, eat 'em raw."
Memorial Day, 2023
Take time to remember those that gave their future so that others may have one.
Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam 1965.. 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, a trooper lifts his battle-weary eyes to the heavens as if to ask why? Another trooper stares down at their fallen comrade. The day's battle ended, and they silently await the helicopter which will evacuate their comrade from the jungle-covered hills.
Thank you for posting that, Kavika. It gave me goosebumps as soon as I read it.
Don't even get me started about Nam. A stupid war where I lost friends.
Had a low draft # and I was going too until the PTB came to their senses.
Thankfully my 1A turned into a 1H at the end. At 69 still have my draft card.
Can hardly remember the faces of the 17yr. olds who didn't make it back.
Fuck war! Nothing romantic about it! (unless you're a gung-ho teenager)
The Vietnam War was terrible and I hated it, however, we can, and should, honor those who sacrificed for us in any war. Memorial Day is not about romanticizing war. It's about honoring those who died, and those, like our beloved friend, Kavika, who selflessly served us all.
I'm the same age as you, for a few more days, and I also had a fairly low draft number. My draft card may still be around somewhere
Last night's sunset, Stone Creek, Ocala, FL.
Now,THAT'S a sunset!!!
While fluttering through the neighborhood this beauty stopped to rest.
Yet another beauty.
Wow! I've never seen one like that before. Had to go look it up. The internet says it's a zebra longwing, or also called a zebra heliconian. Cool butterfly.
I saw some a few months ago, but I'd never seen anything like them before. Thanks for finding out what they are named. Zebra Longwing, is a fitting name.
Monarch Butterfly, Coreopsis Flower
© A. Mac/A.G.
When I was a child, monarch butterflies in our garden were the most popular of all, and the only one I remember from way back when.
Thanks to all; see you Thursday night!