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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Wildlife Wednesday May 2016

The first Wednesday of each month means it's time to gather up photos of wildlife in the garden to share for Wildlife Wednesday hosted by Tina at "My Gardener Says...."

When I began gathering photos for Wildlife Wednesday I thought there wouldn't be a lot for the past month.  I surprised myself with how many different things there are to share.

A bumblebee working a Larkspur flower.  I'm often surprised at the popularity of non-native flowers in my garden.  I enjoy a chance to see the detailed markings in photos.  And this guy really is as big as he looks.  Texas-sized bee.




An here's our bee friend in action



A Carpenter Bee enjoying Augusta Duelberg Salvia.



Another bee totally buried in Opuntia Santa-rita flowers



Butterflies include Eastern Black Swallowtails, note the flashes of bright color on the outside of their wings.




Painted Lady Butterfly on Henry Duelberg Salvia.




Monarch Butterfy enjoying the Gomphrena 'Fireworks'.



Queen Butterfly on Verbena Bonariensis


Gulf Fritillary on Salvia coccinea


Yucca flowers appear so serene


Looking closer, Leaf-footed bugs mating



The cages we use to keep deer away from plants make great spider web frames



This web works quite well to accumulate a pantry full of victims.



For a while during early April we were constantly walking into these icky worms dangling from live oak trees.  In your hair (ewww) or face (double ewww) they are hard to avoid.  I'm sure they have a name but I think "icky dangling worms" pretty much sums it up!


Trying to figure this one out.  Finch or Warbler?  At first glance it looked to be a finch.



But the breast is white.


Black mask with gold chin and gold "shoulders".  Is that a yellow rump?  Possibly a Yellow-rumped warbler.  Can't quite tell.  There's a sanctuary known as "Warbler Woods" just a few miles northeast of my neighborhood so it's possible to spot one in transit.


And now for squirrel antics.  Already stuck to the wood railing and it's not even hot yet!


Those are my wildlife sightings for the past month are so.  How about in your garden?  There are plenty more blogger's wildlife sightings at "My Gardener Says..."

18 comments:

  1. I really like the moving photo gifs! what a fun way to show the insects in action.

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    1. They are easy to put together since the photo program does all the work.

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  2. Great shots, Shirley. Lots of beautiful winged things. I adore your bee shots--but then, I would. Love your take on the seemingly "quiet" yucca plant, only to reveal all the insect happenings in its core. I think you may be correct about the warbler, an Audubon's or Yellow-rumped warbler. Looks to me to be in full breeding plumage. Nice post--thanks for joining in.

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    1. Thanks for confirming my guess! Writing about the process of bird ID should be helpful in the future.

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    2. Well done Tina, it's been confirmed as a Yellow-rumped warbler, Audobon's variety.

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  3. Love the butterflies and bees in action! Yes, you have plentiful wildlife calling your garden home. Lovely!

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    1. It's pretty amazing whenever I take a look at the array of wildlife that shows up each month!

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  4. And here I was excited just to get photos of a Mourning Cloak and a mockingbird! You do an excellent job at "capturing" the wildlife in your garden, Shirley. I often struggle with bird IDs myself - the darn creatures just won't sit still and allow you to get a close look at them!

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    1. Those birds have a habit of not posing at the the correct angle for ID! I find it fascinating that Tina has encouraged me to add a whole dimension to my blog each month.

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  5. If you find out what kind of warbler that is, would you let us know. I know I saw a golden cheeked warbler hanging about my water feature (never have seen one) - different from yours in that the cheeks were definitely yellow on mine as opposed to the yellow on yours is under the chin. I didn't think yellow rumped warblers were supposed to be around this time of year - although it could be a yellow-rumped "Audubon's warbler, breeding male - tho they have much less black on the head and back than yours does. I'd certainly like to know ...

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    1. I'm not sure I could get much more detail than has already been posted. Warblers haven't made a habit of visiting so it might be a while before I see another.

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  6. squirrel lying on the wood = what sort of temperature?
    Bit daunting if it is 'too' hot this early in the season.

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    1. We've been cooler than usual so the squirrel surprised me with his "late summer" posture usually reserved for when it's too hot to move out there.

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  7. You have so many butterflies! I've seen a few large ones so far but after a few warm, dry weeks, we've been cool and very rainy and the pollinators are hiding. Why is the squirrel laying so flat on the deck railing?

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    1. When it's hot in August squirrels will splay out on anything that feels cooler than the air. Usually a stone or birdbath but sometimes the wood railing is their best option. I'm not sure why it's doing this when we haven't even hit 80F yet, but I'm thinking the squirrel is in for a long hot summer!

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  8. These photos are magnificent! I would love to see a monarch - they look so striking. I was wondering why the squirrel was doing that too. Crikey, that squirrel had better get used to the heat!

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  9. As always your shots are spectacular. Love the bumble bee shots against larkspur. So much winged beauty on your visitor's list!

    I haven't seen a warbler around here - they are striking - but we've noted a couple of squirrels exhibiting that long stretch early as well. I sure hope they juste developed a liking for the posture and aren't sending a message about the severity of the heat to come!

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  10. Shirley what a treat to see your butterflies...not many here with our crazy cold weather...hopefully the warmer weather coming will bring them up north.

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