What to do on another hot day? Well, short walks of course. 🙂
So for me it was the usual early morning walk. And thus the Partridge Pea’s (Chamaecrista fasciculata) leaves were wide open!
After the walk it was time to sit and watch the squirrel grab its breakfast. This was the first summer that I have provided the birds and of course the squirrels with the black oil sunflower seeds. In fact it has surprised me how often the birds go to the feeder.
On another walk today I checked out the back of leaves looking for mites. No I didn’t find any today. This was a Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), a host plant for the Snowberry Clearwing (moth). Other critters must not like the berries very much because there are always plenty left.
Garden Spider or Banana Spider (Argiope aurantia) was waiting. So do they twiddle their palps while waiting since they don’t have thumbs? Hmmm.
A two!
By afternoon a deer moved into our woods. The deer always seemed to part with a snort. Perhaps it was saying a cuss word. LOL They don’t seemed to believe me that I mean no harm. 🤷🏻♀️
It was getting crowded with Carpenter Bees and Spur-throated grasshoppers!
Some of the Leavenworth’s Eryngos (Eryngium leavenworthii) had Kissing Bugs Bee Assassin (Apiomerus spissipes) on them. This might get exciting since they are known to prey on bees.
But nah. The Carpenter Bee just pushed it way by. So perhaps the Kissing Bugs Bee Assassin wanted a smaller bee. LOL
That Partridge Pea photos is another contest winner in my book. Love the crispness and all the veins.
Thanks for the chuckles!
That Apiomerus has a common name of Bee Assassin. Kissing bugs are Triatoma sp and suck blood from mammals. this is definitely a Bee Assassin.
The deer snort is a warning for the other deer just like waving the tail. We have noticed our pets around don’t snort because they are used to us but sometimes a tail waves a little.
Heard a new bird today but couldn’t see it. Have to carry binoculars with me tomorrow and hope it returns. Guessing vireo or warbler type species but not one I hear around here.
We put out a peanut feeder all summer and the birds really are going for it right now. Especially chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers.
Judy, no I buy them raw out of the shells. At Christmas time our grocery store sells them in bags. I keep them in the freezer. If I run out, then I buy from the Wild Bird Store but it is pricier. The feeder is a mesh cylinder so only birds that cling onto it can eat. I don’t have jays and the cardinals don’t try.
Gorgeous color on the eryngo. I’ve heard deer snort too. Maybe a message to others?
Eryngo is popular!
That Partridge Pea photos is another contest winner in my book. Love the crispness and all the veins.
Thanks for the chuckles!
That Apiomerus has a common name of Bee Assassin. Kissing bugs are Triatoma sp and suck blood from mammals. this is definitely a Bee Assassin.
The deer snort is a warning for the other deer just like waving the tail. We have noticed our pets around don’t snort because they are used to us but sometimes a tail waves a little.
Heard a new bird today but couldn’t see it. Have to carry binoculars with me tomorrow and hope it returns. Guessing vireo or warbler type species but not one I hear around here.
We put out a peanut feeder all summer and the birds really are going for it right now. Especially chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers.
Kathy, Don’t know what I was thinking when I called the common name Kissing Bug. 😂 Definitely wasn’t thinking. 🤪Thanks!
Just one of what they used to call “senior moments”. 🙂
Are your peanuts in the shell Kathy? Ive only seen blue jays and cardinals take my in shell peanuts.
Judy, no I buy them raw out of the shells. At Christmas time our grocery store sells them in bags. I keep them in the freezer. If I run out, then I buy from the Wild Bird Store but it is pricier. The feeder is a mesh cylinder so only birds that cling onto it can eat. I don’t have jays and the cardinals don’t try.
Thanks Kathy