Scorpion #1, 2011 (and #2 in Absentia)

From May 2 in the bathroom. A few days later another showed up in the same place; one of its pincer arms was dragging behind it, poor thing. I took it out outside without making it suffer through a photo shoot.

The Elusive Tarantula Hawk Continues to Elude Me, Sort Of

A rare ground sighting on a recent morning of a tarantula hawk; it was foraging among the leaves under cedar trees behind the outdoor shower. These photos do not convey the giant purpley golden-orangeness that this insect has in flight, its gangly legs all hanging down and its wings spread wide, as it desultorily yet mysteriously lazes its way through the air!

Lesser Goldfinches

Moth with Brilliant Underwings

House Finch

Ant Takes Moth

Flycatcher, Part II

Extra Texture

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Passing Through

Storm's a-Brewin'

Or at least I hope so. It's been horribly humid and oppressive all day, and the sky all hazy. There is now lightning in the northern sky. . .

Gargoyle

Oak Fluff

How have I lived here all this time without noticing the oak fluff? What is this stuff? It was all over certain of our oaks in April, when these photos were taken. I don't know if this one is a white or a red oak.

Leaf-footed Hopper

London Sky

Slim Moth, Early April

Bur Oak in March

Death of a Prickly Pear

Dotted Moth

Aunt Joyce

My Aunt Joyce, aged 90, longtime resident of London, died today. This photo of her as a child, taken by my grandfather, seems particularly appropriate; she was deeply religious all her life.
















She trained as a nurse & served in Burma during World War II. In later years she was head nurse at Mile End Hospital, where she spent her last many weeks. I don't know exactly when or where this photo was taken, but clearly she was rising in the ranks!







This is in Cornwall in the 1920s (again by my grandfather). Joyce is on the left, my Uncle Teddy on the right; I don't know the little boy in the middle. Teddy was a pilot in the RAF and died in WWII.

Oh, the bloom of youth! Here's to you, Aunt Joyce.

Wren House

One of the wrens was just sitting on the little entrance pole chittering at Hamilton Cat, who was causing great distress to the wren. I invited Hamilton in, though he seemed fairly oblivious to the bird (good).