25-AUG-2010
House finch having a bath
The new spillway from the Amphibian Pond is a magnet for birds. Today there were song sparrows, chipping sparrows, house finches and lots and lots of goldfinches drinking and bathing in the water.
25-AUG-2010
American goldfinches
Two of the many goldfinches enjoying the water in the spillway.
25-AUG-2010
Leafhopper (Draeculacephala zeae)
These small bright green leafhoppers were out in force. Notice how well they blend in with the grass stems on which they were sitting. Their pointy nose is a distinctive feature of this group, as is the hint of pink at the end of the abdomen.
25-AUG-2010
American goldfinch eating Prickly lettuce seeds
Birds were abundant this morning at the garden. Goldfinches were everywhere. They were feeding on the prickly lettuce seeds, as in this photo, and on seeds of sow-thistle. They were also lined up to bathe in the spillway from the pond (a very popular place for birds), as well as in a large puddle on Green Heron Way (the service rd. leading east from the red barn).
Other birds included brown thrasher, male American redstart, eastern kingbird, black-and-white-warbler, female common yellowthroat, female and male cardinals and juveniles, rose-breasted grosbeaks all juveniles, chickadees, common raven, house finches, song sparrows, chipping sparrows, crows, northern flickers, and so on.
20-AUG-2010
Jumping spider (Phidippus clarus), female
This large spider(8-10mm), large for a jumper that is, was in a silken nest on a milkweed plant, a different spider from the previous phot. She ran out and down the stem of the plant and in the late afternoon sun she looked perfectly golden.
20-AUG-2010
Jumping spider in shelter, female
I am a big fan of jumping spiders. I think they are the most adorably cute little critters. Today was a very good day for seeing lots of these gals (this is a female as you can see from the shape of the palps). She was sitting in her shelter on a milkweed leaf and when I tried to get a photo of the shelter she stuck her head out as if to say "What do you want?". Then she climbed out and peered downward, hanging on by her back legs. Very cute!
20-AUG-2010
Planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa
Thanks to Graham Montgomery for the tip about species name.
This was a new one for me. I had been looking for planthoppers for some time and concluded I was never going to see what is apparently a common insect. However, today was a lucky bug day for as I was photographing Enchenopa treehoppers I suddenly noticed this little critter resting on a twig. I thought it might be a tiny moth at first, but when it started to move I realized it was a planthopper! Great excitement. Great frustration too, because it was nearly impossible to photograph it. Eventually, after allowing me a few shots it dropped out of sight and I saw no more.
20-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Enchenopa)
Found on a nannyberry shrub, one of three seen today. You can clearly see the large eye on the upper left under the "thorny" projection, really an extension of the pronotum.
19-AUG-2010
Leafhopper (Neokolla sp.)
This minute leafhopper was on a goldenrod stem. It was so small that not until I had put on my glasses did I even realize it was a living insect! A very attractive one too!
19-AUG-2010
Northern flicker, juvenile
More proof that birds are on the wing! Flickers are being seen in greater abundance around the FWG now, both adults and young.
19-AUG-2010
American goldfinch feeding young
Well, the last of the nesting species have finished. Goldfinches leave their nesting duties until late in the season, well past the time when most birds have nested. There are still a few nesting birds around, however. Song sparrows are on second broods in some cases, but their young should be just about out of the nest now. So that's it... now the birds can begin leaving! Well, not the goldfinches, who tend to be short-distance travellers, rather than migrants. In winter they'll move around a bit, but they are not long-distance migrants.
Jeewa told me she saw a couple of black-and-white warblers in the garden, so things are happening out there in the bird world, as these will be birds starting to move south.
19-AUG-2010
Jewel beetle (Buprestid sp.)
Jeewa sent me this photo today and I was happy to tell her it was a Buprestid beetle, a new one for our FWG list. They are beautiful jewel-like beetles, and vary in size. Fortunately, this one is not green, which could indicate the Emerald Ash borer. Most Buprestids are not invasive or problematical, the way the ash-borer is. And yes, the ash borers are Buprestids.
