Old & In The Way

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 339 is Aged.

The house in West Virginia was built in the early 1970s. For that matter, Theda is around 12 years old.

"The order Odonata ("toothed ones") includes some of the most ancient and beautiful insects that ever roamed Earth, as well as some of the largest flying invertebrates ever to have lived."

And here's a male Common Whitetail:

Also, I have some bumblebee pics to contribute to Michelle's Nature Notes (#318):




UPDATE: Happy B-Day to my sister! Here's one of her wolfhounds, Amelia:

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Snowberry Clearwing and Hummingbird Clearwing

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #80 and Andyslens' Weekend Butterfly #03:

This is a better picture of a Snowberry Clearwing than my previous attempt, enjoying the wild sweet pea flowers.

And here is a Hummingbird Clearwing, Hemaris thysbe on my sister's Purple Verbena:


"The Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is very small, reaching a total length of no more than 25 mm."

These are Horace's Duskywings. (Unless they're some other kind of Duskywing!)


These last two are good examples of brush-footed butterflies (KCS has a nice explanation at this post). Here's a Common Wood-Nymph, Cercyonis pegala:

Last but not least, a Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions (especially if you want to see those brush feet!).
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Fenced In

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #66.

This groundhog was on an elevated section of the W & OD Trail. He/she/it/groundhog could not find a large enough hole to get through when it tried to run away. Eventually he found one, but I didn't think he was going to make it. If he had a waistcoat on, he would have lost all his buttons for sure!


I can't help but take this picture every opportunity:


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Bird on a Wire

Carmi's "Thematic Photographic 338 is Straight lines. Here's Mr. Cardinal:

A plane near Dulles Airport:

Bambi on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail:


For Wild Bird Wednesday 152 and Nature Notes 317, I have a finch. He might be the reddest one I've ever seen, but still a house finch I suppose.


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Eastern Tailed-Blue

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #79 and Andy's Weekend Butterfly #02.

Here is an Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly. The tails are small, but you can see them if you click for the larger pic.

This is an Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme:

I think this is the American Bumble Bee, Bombus pennsylvanicus. But there are a couple of other possibilities. Female bumble bees have pollen baskets like this one, while carpenter bees do not. (There is plenty more information about bumble bees at that link!)


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Beware Of The Bonus Spider

My contribution to TexWisGirl's Good Fences #65.



And here's a bonus spider:

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What's For Dinner?

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 337 is Dinner tables. With nothing recent coming to mind, here's Thanksgiving at my sister's last year (followed by post Christmas lasagna):


And a couple of critters, for the halibut!



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Mystery Photo

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #78. Here's the mystery photo!

I wish these were sharper, but I took them through the sliding door glass in the basement in W.V. I saw this hawk* swoop in, next thing you know he or she was carrying off a hapless woodland creature (and some leaves). *Red-shouldered Hawk, thanks TWG!


So no sharp pics of the hawk visit, but here are some butterflies. This is an Eastern Comma, Polygonia comma. The quite similar Question Mark has 4 spots in a row on its upper wings.

Last but not least, a Great Spangled Fritillary:


Update: Also linking to Andylens' Weekend Butterfly #01

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Spiderwort and More

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 336 is Stuff that grows
Nine months ago, Amelia was a newborn puppy. Now she's 94.7 pounds (and still growing).

Spiderwort has been blooming all over the place(s) for the last several weeks.

TexWiscGirl has Good Fences #64 up. Here's Nutkin!

Stewart M. has Wild Bird Wednesday 150. I tried to record Mr. Cardinal's song, but someone was mowing his lawn.

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Ashburn Stag

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #77. Here's momma goose and her baby on Lake Siri:

Here's a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus):

This is a female Whitetail Dragonfly. She can be distinguished from the female 12-Spotted Skimmer "by the broken/zig-zag, not continuous, white/light line along each side of her abdomen."

Speaking of Whitetails, remember Ashburn deer? This fine fellow was seen in almost the same spot 12 days later.

I was hoping he'd move for a clearer shot, but when I came back down the trail 20 minutes later, he was still there (and keeping a watchful eye):

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