The Hummingbird Moth

Or, Our Yearly Visitor

I was gassing up one morning a few weeks ago at the Hamilton Market and was amazed to see at least five of these hummingbird moths arrayed around the gas pumps and the underneath of the covering above. What happens to the flowers when the moths spend all their time at the gas station lights, instead of being out there pollinating?

The Antler Chandelier From Below Of An Evening

Here Today, or Perhaps Thursday

"Here today" is what I saved this image as, and it was today then, but now it is several days ago, this past Saturday I think. Or perhaps it was Thursday when I stayed home ill and got sunburned in the shade while reading on the patio because of the hitherto-unknown highly reflective effect of our newly sealed patio. In any case, it was a beautiful day.

Hamilton in the Tub

Hey hey Hamiltay
How many birds did you eat today?

(A jeer based on past behavior. No known incidents have occurred for a year or even two, perhaps.)

The Hummingbirds

The Hounds

And So It Begins Again

Or, Woodie and Woodina, 2008 rev





It's established that Woodie is a year-long resident of the nest hole in the tree; he comes in the evenings, hops in, and spends the night. In the past few weeks, he's spent more time near and on the tree. Thursday afternoon he came to the tree mid-day and after a little hopping around, got right in and stayed. Much later, he left, only to reappear after a short time in the staging tree with a friend! Oft have I remarked upon and lamented his solitariness and hoped that he would find a nesting partner; it appears he finally has. And yes, so it begins again....




In he goes! All I can say is, I'm not missing the fledging of the fledglings a second time, no matter how long I have to stare at that damn tree.

The Tiniest Praying Mantis EVER

The smallest praying mantis I have ever seen I found today crawling up my shirt as I sat on the patio reading. Here he is on my knuckle (the brown on my hand is henna).


Here can be seen the serrations on his left leg. He seemed to be missing the frontmost portion of his right leg; couldn't tell if it was really gone or just stuck to the middle part (which might happen if just after birth? as if I know anything about these things?).


On the ground with my fingertip nearby.

Yucca Bloom

In bloom for the first time in four years. Why? (Not that I'm complaining.)

Hamilton?

Centipede?

Found in between living area and kitchen, smashed unintentionally by somebody's foot, perhaps outside and then carried in. The last one of these I saw was about 10 inches long, if not 14 or 17 inches long. It was GIANT. This one is a wee fellow, a mere 2 inches or so.

Argh: Computer Troubles, But Here Is A Centipede Nonetheless.

Or not. At the Cabin is experiencing technical difficulties because of my broken computer. I hope to post the centipede later, and get the computer fixed ASAP.

My Green Bug

Was on my way to bed when I found him on my bedside table and had to get the camera. More to come. I'm tired now.

The Plot Thickens

The dogs led us to a new patch of feathers on our walk this evening. I think the bird was taken down at the bottom of the hill, where there were so many more of the big black outer feathers, and then was finished off over here in the woods near the campsite, right next to this den:


Who lives in there? Fox? Coyote?






Suspicious (and very odoriferous of dead something) spoor

Carnage On The Hill!

We walked down the hill tonight at twilight. At the foot of our path, at the base of the hill, we spied a big black feather, and then another, and another, and handfuls of smaller feathers; and let our animals lead us to other patches of more and more feathers all around. It got to dark to see before we found a carcass, if there was a carcass left. It was a buzzard for sure...but what got it? Anything big enough to take down a buzzard can take down a little cat. I don't like this.

Pretty