Autumn and Rainbow Colors

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#403). And I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 392 - Colors of the rainbow.
As you can see, this red maple has dropped a lot of leaves, but it's still brilliant.

Here's an interesting house on the way to Rock Creek Park:

This horse was in the Park Police corral in Rock Creek Park.

Here's Nutkin!

UPDATE: As it is Saturday (already!), I am also linking to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #156, and Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
The leucistic house sparrow still shows up once in a while:

Apparently, December 1 was laundry day:


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

Great Golden Digger Wasp

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#394). There were a couple of whitetail deer eating behind the shed in my sister's backyard, so I used the shed as cover to sneak up on them. But they took off as I pressed the shutter, so this is all I got:

The Great Golden Digger Wasp is a benign, gentle wasp currently being studied by scientists for its behavioral responses.


I'm also linking to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #133. You've seen these horses before...


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

A Fence With A Horse

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #124.
Blondie is pretty photogenic. (Note: I don't know the horse's real name. But I know a good subject when I see one!)

Aren't you?

Area man sweat bee says, "Hey, what about me?"

I had great luck on the Washington and Old Dominion trail this week. Along with my 1st Monarch pic of the year, here's a Snowberry Clearwing Moth:

And there is more to come from that walk, I'm saving a few pics for Saturday Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin'.

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 378 - Trademark.

This has been my online handle for quite some time:

I used to only use a ™, but at some point I ended up commenting on another blog where someone else also used it. So in a shameless act of one 32-upmanship, I added the 3 and 2 superscripts along with the Registered® and Copyright© symbols. So now you know...the rest of the story.

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

It's Called A Horse Trail

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #127.


This little sparrow was so intent on its bath, it didn't care much about Theda and I walking by:

A rose from the neighborhood:

My sister's Clematis:

It's been a while since Theda made an appearance. Here she is!

That was a rare day of sunshine in D.C. The rain played havoc with the flower-laden azaleas, and even got the rhododendrons down. But one big old shrub is happy as a duck: The magical mystery birdie bush, aka the Streambank Mock Orange (Philadelphus hirsutus):

P.S. Anni at I'd Rather B' Birdin' mentioned that the Sweet Mock Orange (Philadelphus-coronarius) has flowers with a very intense smell. This isn't the case with the Streambank. Here's an apple core that a chipmunk started running off with. Chippie heard me open the window to take a picture and scampered off, leaving a Catbird to swoop in for some lunch.

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

Ashburn Horses and Black Rat Snake

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #123. I stopped to take a picture of these horses...

And then I noticed Mr. (or Mrs.) Black Rat Snake heading across the horse trail toward the bike trail.

This snake is getting ready to shed its skin, else it wouldn't have stuck around. As it was, the bike trail is very busy (I much prefer to walk on the horse trail) and a pretty bad destination for a snake. So I stomped my feet to try to get it turned around.

Mr. Rat Snake was all, "You're not the boss of me!" And proceeded across the trail.

So I picked him up by the tail and put him back in the grass on the other side. (There was some disgruntlement, as you can see.)

And that was the end of that.

P.S. I plan to contribute to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin', too, but I have to head back to D.C. first. P.P.S. Here are a couple more shots of the Red-bellied Woodpecker visit to the porch in W.V. early in April.


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