Please share your photos of nature, wildlife, etc.

[Arcadian]

this morning on my way out the door to walk the dog, I saw a monarch tucked by the umbrella stand outside my house. The butterflies in general hang out a lot in back, maybe because of all the fruit trees and flowers. The monarchs however will land on you. The dog didn't like it much at first, now she just ignores it. I've seen some interesting butterfly wars though. I think my yard is ground zero...lol

Seeing one in front is a bit different, but could be because of last night's rain storm. Taken with my cell phone's camera so it won't be as nice.

 

[december-fire]

Wonderful photos!

What is the creature in the last shot?

 

[december-fire]

Were they in a flock? When they flock, their contact call sounds like ray-guns from a 1960s SciFi flick!

Didn't hear any ray-guns!

Interestingly, this Cedar Waxwing seemed to be on his own.
Of course, I know there could have been dozens that I didn't spot in nearby trees.
However, a gentleman walking past commented on how it was unusual to see one by himself.
I'm not a bird expert by any means, but I gather they tend to be in flocks.

When I saw the Bohemian Waxwings last year, it was a whole flock!
Fascinating to watch them fly as a group to a tree or Juniper shrub, feast on the berries, then move as one unit to the next spot.

 

[december-fire]

They do have a mild anticoagulant secreted from a gland in their mouth, but it is really not a big deal. Wash out the bite and move along. They are, however, seriously grumpy. The one species of snake I've gotten bitten from twice...but, I was grabbing it to put a PIT tag inside it. So, I'd have bitten me too!

Yes, I find that there are usually reasons behind the behaviour of animals, although we might not always be aware of the reasons.

By the way, what's a 'PIT tag'?
Sorry, I'm being too lazy to google it.

 

[rockysalamander]

Yes, I find that there are usually reasons behind the behaviour of animals, although we might not always be aware of the reasons.

By the way, what's a 'PIT tag'?
Sorry, I'm being too lazy to google it.

PIT = Passive Integrated Transponder. It allows you to put the chip in the animal and individually identify them. Most other techniques rely on pattern matching of their body and scale clipping, but both are lost once the snake sheds...and patterns look very different on a new shed vs. about to shed snake. Same technology as used to "chip" a dog. But, for wildlife, they are smaller and more expensive, so we can use a smaller needle when necessary. I've also used these on pretty small critters (salamanders and fish).

Cedar Waxwings are certainly a social bird. They often stay in flocks. It is unusual to see a solitary bird, but not unheard of. Its just extra cool when they are together due to the ray-gun noises! They actually will share food in the flock, and you'll see one bird 'picky' the berry and passing it to others. They are often in larger flocks toward fall, so keep your ears peeled.

 

[aljdewey]

flying

 

[aljdewey]

Star trails

 

[aljdewey]

For the life of me, can't figure out how to get pics to load right

 

[doberman]

A visitor on our property last week.

 

[Karl_K]

not exactly wildlife but it is outside.....
This is one of my favorite pics ever.

 

[december-fire]

For the life of me, can't figure out how to get pics to load right

I love your photos!
The star trails and sunflowers photo is beautiful!
Thank you for sharing these with us.

I post photos by clicking "Upload a File", located just to the right of "Post Reply".
I then select the file (photo) I want to include.
I load "Full Size" (I think that's what the option is called, but going by memory at the moment).
Don't know if that helps.

 

[december-fire]

not exactly wildlife but it is outside.....
This is one of my favorite pics ever.

OK, Karl, I feel like this is one of those 'what is it?' photos.

A light on an outside shed viewed through a drinking glass bottom?
An alien traveling in a space craft with the force shields activated?
Your own personal mini-galaxy you created when you were bored one day?

 

[Karl_K]

Here is the uncropped as shot other than resized picture, that help id it?

Hint soap and water were involved.

 

[december-fire]

Yes! Obviously an alien space craft!

 

[december-fire]

OK, upper left corner of photo there appears to be something in the tree.
A light?
But it doesn't seem to be throwing any light beyond the base.

The object seems almost like a soap bubble, but not a soap bubble.
It doesn't seem spherical.

And yet, based on my amazing ability to be wrong, maybe it is a soap bubble.
A photo of a soap bubble taken with the flash, which is reflected back as a white light?

--------------------------

Just saw your hint of soap and water.

Are you sure it wasn't an alien who then altered your memory?
'Cause it doesn't look spherical to me.
Just sayin'

 

[Karl_K]

lol yep soap bubble, was just before sun set and my now wifey and my sisters kids were blowing bubbles and I grabbed her camera and snapped the shot. The flash hit the bubble and tada.

Well that's the story i tell people anyway.... *grin*

 

[december-fire]

Here are some photos I took yesterday in my backyard during the partial solar eclipse that didn't happen!
Yeah, didn't notice anything unusual whatsoever! No changes in bird behaviour. Nothing!
Well, except that these not-so-great photos of a Monarch butterfly seem to show round, colourful alien life forms!
That's something.

Or, maybe these are just 'soap bubbles', right @Karl_K ?

 

[december-fire]

One more out-of-focus shot.
Also known as 'soft focus'. The preferred look of mature actors.

 

[december-fire]

Brown-eyed girl! Female Downy Woodpecker.

 

[december-fire]

Beautiful bee on the Agastache 'Blue Fortune'; bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love this plant!

 

[december-fire]

Hummingbirds!

 

[december-fire]

I love hummingbirds!

 

[december-fire]

This little hummer was about 40 feet away yet, if you listen carefully, you can hear her muttering 'I hate paparazzi.

 

[december-fire]

The Agastache 'Blue Fortune', planted last summer, have grown quite tall.
These photos were taken with the plants between me and the hummingbird.
The 'haze' is actually the purple flowers that were in the way and blowing with the breeze.

 

[december-fire]

Opps! I've been spotted!

 

[december-fire]

Last hummingbird photo. For now.

 

[december-fire]

This bird, which was about 80 feet away in a neighbour's tree, seems to have a conical beak like the Rose-Breasted Grosbeck (which comes to my yard).
But I think both the male and female of that species have light-coloured beaks.
If anyone can identify this bird, that would be great!

 

[december-fire]

Last one for now.
The always adorable Black-Capped Chickadee!

 

[Karl_K]

kewl pics. If I may make a suggestion, compose in camera just a bit more.
For example this one by moving the bird to the left it makes it appear like he is staring into space.

bleh just noticed I over sharpened this one a bit creating a halo, didn't catch it in processing.

 

[Karl_K]

Last hummingbird photo. For now.

This one is perfectly composed I love it!