New Blogger Interface Test

Hmm.

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Platter Birds, Porch Birds

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #154. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. I've been experimenting with the Canon G15 a lot lately. I suspect that it's become worn and damaged through use (and abuse, it's hit the floor once or twice), auto-mode doesn't work the way I'm used to. But it still can take decent pics, especially in macro mode. So now I'm trying other modes I've never bothered with before.
D.C. platter birds:




West Virginia porch birds:


Here's a turkey vulture:

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 390 - Out for a walk. Of course that happens several times a day when there's a dog in your household. Here's Theda having a drink from Lake Siri:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
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Fall Colors and Critters

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #137.

I'm late with my posts this week, so this one is also for:

Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #151

Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'

and Carmi's Thematic Photographic 387 - Where I Shop

This hotel is next to Berkeley Springs State Park.

These minnows live in Warm Springs Run, the creek under that bridge.

George Washington's bath tub:

I don't shop in many stores in Berkeley Springs, but this is one I visit often.

How about a bird and a fence? This is one of 'our' porch birds, a Downy Woodpecker.

A White-breasted Nuthatch:

Race for the seeds:

Fall colors from Cacapon Mountain and Lake Siri:



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We're On Your Porch, Eating Your Seeds.

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#398).



And here is some fall foliage with Canadian Geese, Lake Siri, and Cacapon Mountain.

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Dark and Orby Night on Cacapon Mountain

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #143 and Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin'.

It was a dark and orby night:

So this tree frog came out to catch bugs on the sliding glass door. He/she/it/Hyla versicolor was doing well, I saw two captures.

Now for some porch birds:



Here's Lady of the Lake, Theda. Note the leaves are starting to fall:

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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 Bee and More

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#374). I have some pollinators to contribute. First, a Carpenter Bee on a white thistle.

This bee is new to me. Shaped somewhat like a small, shiny black bumblebee. It could fly as smoothly as a hover fly. A mason bee, maybe?

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 379 is Reflective. I have nothing great in that department currently, but here are some pics of Lake Siri from July.


Dog Department: Amelia

And Theda. (Do you see the chipmunk?)

Cacapon Mountain Front Yard

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#370). Lots of weeds and thistles and such in front of the Cacapon Mountain house. I started weed-whacking, but stopped for the weekend. And now it's pouring rain. Maybe just as well, since it's tiny toad heaven. Note that both of the Cercis canadensis have leaves now, as do the two in D.C.

My camera (and I) aren't always great at replicating colors. Pictures of Lake Siri with the sun behind me work out great, though.

Mrs. Red-winged Blackbird didn't think Theda and I should be walking by the pond above Lake Siri, at all. And she let us hear about it!

Rory Orb:

I've posted pics of the tiny toads. The rain brings the frogs to the front yard, too. But they're a lot quicker!

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Groundhog, Tiny Toads, Canada Geese

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #133.
This is a Cacapon Mountain hedgehog groundhog (aka woodchuck, thanks to Eileen for noting that).

Here's Cacapon Mountain behind Lake Siri:

As I mentioned last post, tiny toad season is here!

Here's a slightly bigger one:

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B' Birdin'. Happy Canada Day (yesterday) to the Lake Siri geese!

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
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