Fall Butterflies

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #152.

I didn't see as many butterflies this year as I'm used to. But there were some out in Ashburn this month. Here is a Variegated Fritillary:

A Clouded Sulphur and Cabbage White sharing a dandelion:

I took some photos of the Great Golden Digger Wasp last month when it was shiny and getting nectar in the sun. They also get down and dirty, as the digger part of the name indicates.


I'm linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
These are vultures in Ashburn.

Some D.C. platter birds:

Last but not least, here's another shot of Miley, the St. Dane!

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Gray Catbird

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #149. This is a Red-eared slider from Ashburn earlier this month.

A couple days later, I saw the turtle sunning on the bank:

Also from earlier this month, a Common Buckeye:

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. Both mockingbirds and catbirds were all over the pokeberries earlier this month, but the catbirds were too shy to let me get a decent pic. Turns out I got one after all.

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They Always Look So Guilty

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #148. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.

Here is Mrs. Cardinal taking to the air.

I'm raven about this crow. (Or the other way.) Unfortunately the sun was on the wrong side for great pixels, but the (big) bird was so focused that it let me get closer than they usually do.

Carpenter Bee


Grass Spider:

This is Trichopoda pennipes:

The Carpenter Sisters:

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Fall Bees, Butterflies, and Birds

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #147.

Perhaps you'd prefer a butterfly, like this Pearl Crescent?

I usually see Great Spangled Fritillaries. Here is a Variegated Fritillary.

I'm also contributing to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. This mockingbird will direct you to the animal clinic:

The vultures are very happy that we build power line towers for them.


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Butterflies, Birds, Disposable

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#390).

I saw a Tiger Swallowtail hanging oddly from a teasel in Ashburn late in August.

It had been caught by an ambush predator, a crab spider:

Remarkable that the spider could hold onto something that big just using its two hindmost legs.
P.S. In case Michelle would rather use something besides the hapless butterfly for her collage, here are some Cardinal Flowers.

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 383 - Disposable. Unfortunately, our Cacapon Mountainside neighborhood has some bears who love garbage and houses that are rented out to weekenders. The result is often ripped open bags of trash in our 'backyard.'

Not just one bag, but two!

I'm also linking to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #129. It took almost a week for the usual suspects to figure out there was food on the porch deck. But they're here now...


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Mystery Birdie Bush update

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #128. Note the leaves fallen on the ground.

And Mr. Cardinal:

So it's already Friday night and almost time for Saturday Critters.

Update: Also linking to Eileen's Saturday's Critters #142. And Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.

Here's a Snowberry Clearwing shot I haven't used yet:

And a mockingbird lurking near the pokeberry shrubs:

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Butterflies and Signs, etc.

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#389).

I think this is a Pearl Crescent Butterfly - Phyciodes tharos:

Cloudless Sulphur, Phoebis sennae:

I thought this was a beetle. It is an Ailanthus webworm moth:

Female Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis:

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 382 - Street Signs. These signs are around (or on) the W. and O.D. trail.


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W and OD Trail Critters

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #141. These wasps are often on the goldenrod, I think they're mason wasps.

Got one on a thistle.

Tiger Swallowtails like the thistles (and teasels):

One of my favorite moths, the Snowberry Clearwing:

Here's a young buck that didn't seem very concerned with my photography:

Or video:

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
Here's a lady Goldfinch, something on the ground there distracted her long enough for me to get a pic.

I hope to add more birdie pics in an update. But right now I have to motor.

UPDATE: These berry shrubs have been full of mockingbirds and catbirds for the last week. I've been trying to get some sharp pics, but they see my camera and hop into the shadows. The plant is American Pokeweed. It is poisonous to mammals but not birds.

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Nutkin Style

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes #(379).
Regular and Blonde Tail Nutkins from the backyard in D.C. earlier this month:

Snowberry Clearwing:

Fiery Skipper

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 381 - Please Be Seated. For this, I'm going with professional couch connoisseur Amelia:

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