Yesterday’s fog made for some lovely webs standing out in the backyard…
Fall Web
PhotoWILD! – Fall 2011
This weekend was the Carolina Raptor Center‘s PhotoWILD fall event. We had fabulous weather, there were new birds, and some folks we knew also attended. There was even a very rare sighting of the ferocious fall squirrel raptor. Overall a great way to spend a Sunday morning!
Click here for the complete PhotoWILD! – Fall 2011 picture set…
Posted in PhotoWILD
Tagged 2011, Aletta, American kestrel, barn owl, barred owl, Bart, Beatrice, birds of prey, Bob O., Carolina Raptor Center, CRC, Dumbledore, Eastern screech owl, Emma, Estrella, Eurasian eagle owl, golden eagle, great-horned owl, Hermes, King Arthur, Mississippi kite, Moni, October, PhotoWILD, Puck, raptors, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, Russell, Shiva, short-eared owl, spectacled owl, Willow
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Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
I finally got some decent shots of the butterfly that has been hanging around my yard. The colors always amaze me.
Posted in Nature
Tagged 2011, black, Danaus plexippus, Monarch butterfly, Mount Holly, NC, October, orange, spots, yellow
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Ellie @ Suzie’s Pride Big Cat Sanctuary
Saturday Neil took me up to Suzie’s Pride for a photo shoot with the Charlotte Wildlife Photography Group. Suzie’s Pride is a rescue/sanctuary for big cats – currently they house five lions and a tiger. All female. Ellie is the star of the place as she is the “special needs” kitty. Born to another resident, Elsa, she has a stub tail and weak muscles. Vets cannot determine what is causing the muscle weakness and all tests come back normal. She is a fun-loving, adorable cub who is just over a year old. Due to her special circumstances, she was allowed to come out and play with us. (Yes, she is as soft and cuddly as she looks…as long as you avoid the sharp parts. But then again, that’s pretty much true of any cat I’ve ever met.) You can view Neil’s photos from the day here. He took some fabulous photos of the other cats – you should go check them out!
Posted in Nature
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Partial Albino House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Just the other day I was reading a story about an albino ruby-throated hummingbird that was seen and tagged in Florida. This morning I woke to see this lovely fella (gal?) hanging out with a flock of finches at my feeders. (How’s that for some alliteration?!) I am guessing it’s a house finch based on the rest of the flock and the beak shape. There is some pigmentation in the eye and feathers, but not much!
Posted in Nature
Tagged 2011, albino, backyard, bird, Carpodacus mexicanus, finch, house finch, Mount Holly, NC
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Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe)
This is one of the most interesting, beautiful “bugs” I’ve ever seen…
Posted in Nature
Tagged 2011, backyard, bug, Clearwing moth, Hemaris thysbe, hummingbird moth, insect, moth, Mount Holly, NC
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Writing Spider (Argiope aurantia)
… or Black and Yellow Garden Spider… or Corn Spider…
This lovely has made her home in the spirea at the back corner of my house:
Posted in Nature
Tagged 2011, argiope aurantia, August, backyard, black and yellow, corn spider, critters, garden spider, Mount Holly, NC, orb weaver, spider, spiderweb, writing spider
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Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris)
These are my patio friends. I believe it is a family – momma, poppa, and baby – that have hung around all summer. The male is the most skittery of the bunch and I can’t get him to come to the bush or the feeder while I am outside. Maybe someday. I think the one I captured this evening is Momma…
Posted in Nature
Tagged 2011, Archilochus colubris, backyard, bird, hummingbird, Mount Holly, NC, ruby-throated
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Luna Moth (Actias luna)
Tonight Moo and the neighbor dog, Raleigh, found a luna moth (Actias luna). Sadly, Moo had him in her mouth and I don’t know if he is going to make it. He may have already been on his way out, or if he was new and fell before its wings were ready for flight, it might just be back luck. Of course all this prompted me to look up some info - I learned that they have no mouths, thus they do not eat; they only live for about a week and solely for the act of procreation. Nature and evolution are crazy things…I love that I got to see one. (Note: wingspan is approx 4″ on this one)
The photo quality leaves a lot to be desired (I grabbed a camera and started clicking before it was too dark to capture anything), but I really wanted to share this beautiful thing with everyone.
Industry
Neil and I went on an industrial photo excursion last night – our destinations were the Duke Energy Mountain Island Hydro Station (est. 1923) and the Riverbend Steam Station (est. 1929). Both are still operating today, though, I believe the steam station is due to be decommissioned in the next few years.
Note: The dandelion picture is not a mistake in this set…it was taken at the Riverbend Steam Station and is a good reminder that nature will persist no matter how much industry is developed.
Posted in Industry
Tagged 2011, coal, CSX, Duke Energy, electricity, industry, July, Mount Holly, Mountain Island Hydro Station (est. 1923), NC, Riverbend Steam Station (est. 1929), train, water
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