Taking another trip down Memory Lane. This month's potpourri gathered from the archives features the themes of critters, fences, skies, macros and reflections. It is a retrospective view of photos taken three years ago, in September, 2012. At that time I did not seek to portray each of these memes. Although I never lack photos of "critters," it is a matter of chance whether I find any fences, skies, macros or reflections in that month's selections. Let's see how far I need to go into the month to find at least one of each. If I can get them all I will have won the game nine months in a row since starting in January, 2015.
We began the month at our second home in northeastern Illinois. On September 8 Mary Lou and I were "Birding Bliss"-- Bliss Woods, that is, in nearby Sugar Grove, Illinois. One of my first photos was from the little bridge at the beginning of the trail, and it included a superb REFLECTION!
That was great luck, so early in the month's archives. That day we saw quite a few Wood Warblers, among them this Cape May Warbler (September 8, 2012):
We returned to Florida a few days later but, as usual, it took us a few days to catch up on shopping, medical appointments and all the other distractions that accompany a change of station. On our first day afield in our local wetlands (September 19, 2012) we encountered a beautiful male Prairie Warbler:
Another warbler, an inquisitive Northern Waterthrush suddenly flew up from the understory:
A reclusive female Common Yellowthroat peered out from the foliage (September 20):
More forthcoming, a male yellowthroat sported a black mask (September 24):
Also on September 24, an active monochromic Black-and-white Warbler lacked only one color,...
... exhibited by the aptly named Yellow-throated Warbler.
On the same colorful morning, a male Northern Cardinal:
One sought-after butterfly (and the best MACRO I could find) appeared on September 23, a Ruddy Daggerwing:
Another close-up, this time of lichens on Pond Cypress, September 23:
Sunrise from our back patio on September 22 finally provides us with our SKY shot...
...and a pink sky shot on September 27 actually did show the gate into our birding patch...
...but we had to go all the way to September 28 before finding a photo containing a bona fide FENCE. That was a narrow escape from failure!
Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa).
Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy
Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James
Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni
Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
Linking to I Heart Macro by Laura
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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This month's potpourri gathered from my photo archives features the themes of critters, fences, skies, macros and reflections. It is a retrospective view of photos taken three years ago, in August, 2012. Actually it is a scavenger hunt, as at that time I did not seek to portray each of these memes. Let's see how far I need to go into the month to find at least one of each. If I can get them all I will have won the game eight months in a row since starting in January, 2015.
The month started out on a disappointing note. I should have been happy because the native Trema trees were bursting with fruit and this foretold of lots of food for the warblers and tanagers passing through this autumn. We were about to leave for our second home in Illinois.
August 8, 2012:
However, the vandals who had ravaged my favorite "sit spot" which, four years ago, I called the "Fake Hammock" had completed their destruction of the habitat. After cutting down all 5 of the mature Tremas, their campfires ignited a blaze that completely opened up my shady and secluded retreat. Now it is exposed to the sun and invaded by tall grass:
CRITTERS:
Also on August 8, I watched as an Anhinga caught and then swallowed a very large sunfish in our local wetlands. Here is a link to a video of the entire sequence of photos "Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head":
In contrast, the same day, this Tricolored Heron caught a tiny fish in our back yard lake. Look closely:
A pair of Common Ground Doves walked the gravel road on August 8, 2012. The more brightly colored one is the male:
A Northern Parula was the final warbler I would log before departing from Florida, this photo also taken on August 8, 2012
In Illinois, a family of Sandhill Cranes occupied the"backyard" of our condo. Their feathers are discolored by minerals in the water:
On August 22, 2012, at an Illinois sod farm, I captured this "triple play" of a Killdeer, an American Golden-Plover, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper:
MACRO:
On August 24, a delightful photo of a female Chestnut-sided Warbler in Batavia, Illinois:
A Green Anole (August 4), a female Julia heliconian (August 8) and a bee look-alike hoverfly (August 31) posed for my favorite MACROs of the month:
SKY, REFLECTION (and, if you look closely, a FENCE-- sorry it does not meet Texas standards, but this was the best I could do that month Theresa!):
The morning before leaving Florida we had a beautiful sunrise over our lake, on August 10, 2012:
Well, that was fun. I think I may have just squeaked by and kept my record clean, provided Tex gives me a break.
Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa).
Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy
Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James
Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni
Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
Linking to I Heart Macro by Laura
________________________________________________
Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
________________________________________________