Cardinalis cardinalis

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #150. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B' Birdin.

We got to West Virginia late yesterday afternoon and the local birds haven't found out there's food on the porch again (yet). Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal were strutting their stuff in the backyard in D.C. yesterday.



Update: They're here!



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Fall Critters

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#397). And I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 386 - Autumn.

The leaves are starting to change on the Streambank Mock Orange:

I know I've been posting a lot of sweat bees lately, but their colors go so nicely with the flowers:

Theda is loving the cool weather and sunshine:

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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Wicket

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #132. This is Amelia's new friend next door, Wicket.


So who is Wicket named for?

Wicket W. Warrick, that's who!


In other business...

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Party Crasher

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#392). Here is the Mystery Birdie Bush (Streambank Mock Orange) full of birds waiting for their morning seeds.

You won't believe what happened next! (Of course you will...Nutkin crashed the party and ate almost all of the sunflower seeds.)

So this morning. Mr. Cardinal has the run of the place...

And then...

How about a bee?

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Mr. Cardinal and 'Friends'

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #144. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin'.

Unlike Mrs. Cardinal, Mr. Cardinal does not like to share.


Here's Nutkin with one of the apple cores.

But he didn't finish it, so...

And that's all for today, right Theda?

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Mrs. Cardinal and Friends Plus Pumpkin Fence

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#391).


I'm also contributing to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #130. How about a pumpkin fence?

And Carmi has Thematic Photographic 384 - Dirty. For this, we're going to the expert:

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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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Beewolf, Snowberry Clearwing Video

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #140.
Gray Hairsteak:

Common Buckeye:

When I saw this flying around the W and O.D. Trail, I thought it was a hover fly due to its flying skills. Turns out it is a small wasp known as a Beewolf:

Tiger Swallowtail:

Snowberry Clearwing Moth, Hemaris diffinis:


For Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin', I have this male Goldfinch. The Goldfinches and the one Monarch I saw this week were sticking to the few remaining flowering thistles. Most other butterflies and bees were loving the teasels.

I was going to save this male Cardinal for Good Fences, but I have plenty of pictures for Thursday and not many birds. So here he is:

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