Return of the "Flying Flowers"

The first butterflies usually appear in my little section of Northwest Wyoming in late April. It is always a surprise to discover the bright splashes of color during days which are still often more like winter than summer. Almost always, the early arrivals are the Wyoming state butterfly, Sheridan's Green Hairstreak. They tend to disappear as quickly as they arrive and they are followed by a slow trickle of other species: Boisduval's Blue, Melissa Blue, then a Black Swallowtail or two, maybe a Crescent and a Checkerspot, gradually building in number and species until we get to mid-June and it suddenly seems like there are "flying flowers" everywhere! And once the Fritillaries and the Wood Nymphs arrive, the air is full of color and motion! 

Below are just a few of the species I see on a regular basis this time of year. 

Fritillaries on Sand Verbena

Northern Checkerspot on Blanket Flower

Ruddy Copper on Catamint

Grey Hairstreak

Juniper Hairstreak

Wood Nymph

Tiger Swallowtail collecting moisture

Learning to See

As you can probably guess, when we are talking about finding and photographing insects, "learning to see" is not about the results of your latest eye exam. Rather, it is about training yourself to be aware of even the smallest creatures that share our world. 

Like all living things, humans have evolved to survive a scary world. That means we are especially attuned to things that might threaten our health and safety. There is little chance we would not notice a grizzly bear in our yard but we can walk right by a multitude of insects day after day, year after year and not even realize they are there!

There are several steps we can take to awaken our senses in regards to the insects that surround us. 

1. Education

    It is probably pretty obvious but the number one things we can do to jump start our insect awareness is to educate ourselves on what should be found in our area. Field guides are invaluable in helping to identify various species as well as in providing range maps for them. Wildflower books for your location can help identify plants and once you know more about the flora, you can begin to explore the insects that use those plants for food or as habitat. 

Sumac flea beetle

On my property there are dozens of skunk sumac bushes. Over the years I noticed that occasionally the leaves of various bushes would be riddled with holes. Upon closer examination, I discovered the larval form of an unknown insect munching away on the plants, usually in mid-summer. It wasn't until I started really staring at the plants this year before they leafed out that I discovered the adult insect, above. These are sumac flea beetles and it turns out they are quite common. There are probably many dozens spread throughout my property but it took me almost three decades to see my first one!

It is also helpful to educate yourself on the various forms an insect might take. The photos below both depict the white-lined sphinx moth but one shows the larval stage while the other shows the adult moth. 

Caterpillar of sphinx moth

White-lined sphinx moth

2. Pattern Recognition

    Camouflage clothing works because the fabric patterns blend into the background. Many insects are experts at doing the same thing. Some insects mimic very specific things in nature, such as leaves or twigs, while others use pattern as means of blending into their surroundings. 

Hooded owlet moth

This hooded owlet moth hangs out on tree trunks or wooden structures. Unless you are looking very closely at the surface, it is easy to look right at this moth and not see it. Even the circles on the wings are meant to mimic knotholes in the wood. 

It is possible, with practice, to train your eyes to pick up on the subtle difference in pattern of various insects and their backgrounds.

3. Visualization

    Athletes and business people have been successfully using the technique of visualization as a means of achieving success for years. But visualization can help with many things, even finding insects! Once you know what creatures are likely to be found in your area, you can start trying to visualize them on various surfaces when you are out and about. Just like becoming aware of a particular word for the first time and then seeming to hear it regularly from then on, once you visualize a particular insect and then find it, it often seems that you start seeing that species on a regular basis.

Brachys aerosus

The tiny metallic wood-boring beetle, Brachys aerosus, is very difficult to spot unless you can picture what it is you are looking for. Not only are they about the size of the head of a pin, they often tuck in their legs and antennae so it is hard to even realize you are viewing a living creature. But once you visualize their form, you may suddenly realize there are dozens of them to be found on a single cottonwood tree. 

4. Time in the field

    After education, spending time in the field practicing looking for insects is probably the best technique to ensure future success. The more time you spend outside, the more you will see and I am willing to bet you will be astonished to discover the richness and diversity of the landscape right outside your home! 

Tolerance and Compassion

Rattlesnake coiled on the trail, level to the ground

I dragged my husband out of bed at 5 am this morning so we could hike to a location from which I wished to photograph the Clark's Fork Canyon at sunrise. The place I was envisioning setting up was a short drive away, followed by a hike of about a mile and half and an elevation gain of just under 1000'. We had been to this spot before and I knew it would be spectacular in the early morning light. 

There is no official route to the top but there are a few faint animal trails here and there. I was leading the way, following one of the paths between some small rocks when I heard Ken swear behind me. I went back to his location but it wasn't until he pointed to the ground that I saw this all-but-invisible rattlesnake coiled up right in the middle of the trail. Ken had been about to step on top of him. I obviously walked right over him and didn't even know he was there! Which brings me to the point of this post. 

I am sure that if I am ever bitten by a rattler, many of the comments will suggest I had it coming. I realize that is partly my fault - I talk about the venomous reptiles on a regular basis and no doubt my musings come across as cavalier at times. But I assure you that I have a healthy respect for these animals and the damage they can do. I protect myself by knowing their habits and by trying to be vigilant when I am in their territory. But stuff happens. And I refuse to sit in my house, avoiding the outdoors, just because I live in the land of bears, cougars and rattlesnakes! 

Panoramic view of Clark's Fork Canyon in the early morning

 There have been two instances of people being attacked by an elk in the Mammoth area over the last couple days. The first victim was a woman who works at the hotel and lives on the grounds. She was severely injured and had to be life-flighted to Idaho. The reports state that the cow elk was protecting her newborn calf which she had hidden nearby. The woman almost certainly did not realize the young elk was there nor that she was placing herself between mama and baby. Yet the comments on the post released by the National Park Service are almost entirely accusatory, suggesting the woman was "stupid" and "an idiot" for putting herself in that position. I am appalled by the lack of compassion and understanding for this tragic event. Yes, there are visitors to the park who choose to put themselves in harm's way by taking selfies next to a bison or trespassing on the fragile ground but there are also times when the unexpected happens and all our careful habits can't protect us from the surprise encounter. All we can do is our best.

Cultural site - probably Native American - on a hillside near the canyon

Circle B Bar Reserve

I have an ever-growing list of places I like to visit in Florida for birding and photography. At the top of the list for the last few years has been the Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland. I was all set to go last year but came down with the flu the day before we headed south and so ended up with an unproductive visit as far as photography or much of anything else. 

This year I was not going to miss another chance and so we headed inland on the day before Christmas with my mom and dad in tow. We had not been able to find out much on-line or by calling so were disappointed when we arrived to find the nature center closed for the holiday and a large portion of the paths closed to hiking. 

Even so, I have to say the experience was memorable and it is definitely a place I will continue to visit every chance I get. The sheer amount of birdlife was amazing. And what was there seemed to have very little concern for the excited public walking the well-marked trails through their habitat. 

 Some of my favorites were the Limpkins. Their strident voices could be heard from the time we arrived and there seemed to be brown and white birds everywhere we looked. At one point I heard an especially loud voice and when I tracked it down I discovered an adult Limpkin apparently warning her youngster who seemed to be wandering too close to a large alligator.

 I think these birds are beautiful and the shape of their bills is a study in evolution as they seem perfectly designed to get into the apple snails that make up most of their diet.

 Although birds are the most abundant inhabitants of the reserve, they are certainly not the only ones. This turtle seemed to pick a questionable location in the middle of one of the lesser used trails to lay its eggs.

 We spotted Sandhill Cranes in a number of locations. Although I have seen many of the big birds in the past, it was fascinating to watch them apparently hunting in water that reached up to their bellies.

 One of the more unusual birds that makes the marshland of the reserve its home is the Black-bellied Whistling Duck. They are easily identified by their beautiful colors, including the reddish bills.

This Snowy Egret, below, was nice enough to walk through a patch of wildflowers that mimicked the color of its lores.

Other birds we saw were Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, Glossy Ibis, Coopers Hawk, Red Shouldered Hawk, Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Herons, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles and even a few Pied-billed Grebes. I am sure I am missing some but one of my goals for this year is to finally start recording my sightings so hopefully next time I visit this amazing place, I will be able to relate all the things I see!

A Tale of Da Feet

I spent a week in Florida over the Christmas holidays. While the main purpose was to visit family, I admit I was thrilled at the opportunity to photograph birds. It is not that I have no chance of doing so in Northern Wyoming in the winter but there is no doubt the avian population here is greatly reduced in terms of species this time of year. 

This first collection of Florida birds is not representative of my best shots - instead it is a small study in the incredible diversity of feet!  

It is easy to see why Anhingas are commonly known as Darters in many places! In this shot I was able to get a really good look at the bird's large webbed feet which it uses to propel itself through the water as it swims in search of food. 

 I wasn't planning on including this photo of a Great Blue Heron flying overhead but I was struck by the length and straightness of the bird's legs and feet as it soared by. I am sure it is incredibly aerodynamic with its neck pulled in and its legs stretched out behind it.

The Common Moorhen has really impressive feet with remarkably long toes that help it walk on floating vegetation. I am not sure I have ever seen one perched on a branch before but it really allowed me a good look at the oversized yellow-green appendages!

One of the easiest ways to identify a Snowy Egret is by its "golden slippers". I usually try to avoid photographing birds and animals from behind but in this case the easily seen feet were the focus!

Wood Storks use their feet as well as their bills to stir up prey as they move through the water. It is not unusual to see them standing at rest with one foot raised and relaxed. I always think "tree pose" of yoga should be renamed "stork pose"!

Ice Bears - Part 2

I not only have a lot of photos of polar bears from our trip, I have photos of a lot of different bears. Each seemed to have their own personality and degree of comfort with the large ship passing by. 

 Some stayed where they were watching us with a mild curiosity while others came closer and still others left as fast as they could.

 The bear, above, is one of my favorites for a very selfish reason. I was all alone on the bow at about 5:30 am when a crew member came down from the bridge to tell me they had spotted a bear on an ice floe we were approaching. The official wake-up call was sounded each morning at 6:45 am and the policy seemed to be that there would be no announcements made before that time. The plan was to get in position and just wait with the bear in sight until people awoke. As we got closer I managed to get the one shot, above, of the bear resting before he became aware of us and entered the water, quick as a flash. That was the last we saw of him. So this is the only photo of that particular bear. I love how his head is down and his butt is in the air.

We had many opportunities to see bears rolling and sliding in the snow. The female, below, was particularly active and I captured lots of images of her in comical poses.

She was also the only bear we saw with a collar on which made for less than ideal photos. Only female bears can be collared for a very simple reason: on males, their neck is larger than their head. Collars would slide right off!

My iMac died this morning. The only good news is that it has been giving me warning signs for the last few weeks so I had everything backed up but I am left without the ability to edit images until I replace it. It was 7 years old so I can't imagine it is worth trying to fix, even if it was possible (which it really isn't in remote Wyoming). I have edited almost all my Arctic images so I can continue to post those photos for a while but things are certainly a little more difficult for the time being!

Kits will be Kits

I am so grateful for friends who not only appreciate and respect wildlife but call me when they see something special! I received an email from a longtime friend informing me that they had a fox den under their barn and asking if I wanted to photograph the kits. It took about half a second for me to respond with an excited "YES!"

 Once I arrived the next evening I was shown the area of the den and told that they thought there were  five kits. Then I was left alone to see what I could capture. I had my small blind with me and I set it up outside the fence so I was peeking through. It was incredibly uncomfortable and after two hours of trying to stay relatively motionless I finally had the opportunity to photograph one brave kit who ventured out of the den. The good news was that it was pretty clear the young fox had no idea I was there. Between the direction of the wind and the blind, I seemed to be invisible although he did perk up his ears each time I clicked the shutter.

I decided to call it a night and return with a better plan a couple days later.

 When I came back the second time I took a few more minutes getting set up in a better location where I could be more comfortable. Almost immediately after pulling the blind over me I heard a loud noise and turned to see two cows and a horse watching with obvious consternation trying to figure out what this strange creature was that had invaded their space. It turned out to be the best thing to happen because the kits, when they popped out, were apparently fascinated by the bigger animals and kept trying to see what they were up to while once again completely ignoring me in my blind.

 This time around the kits all emerged at once and spent about an hour frolicking as I snapped gleefully away. And, surprise! Instead of five there were actually seven youngsters in the group. I don't know how mama fox feeds them all!

My favorite shots of the day were when the animals were interacting with each other. They would play for a while and then a mock fight would break out and they would growl and bark at each other sounding much bigger than they actually are.

Even though I often try to capture photos of animals without man-made structures in the images, I think the fact that they chose the environs of the barn as their den is part of this story. And the surroundings provide an obstacle course any youngster would be thrilled to explore!

Inauguration Day

Yesterday seemed like a good day to put on the skis and get out into the wild. The endless discussions and coverage from Washington were a constant reminder of the dysfunctional family that America has become over the last year or so. I chose to go to my healing place in nature which is a much more peaceful environment and doesn't involve people trying to talk over each other in an effort to make their opinion seem the most valid. 

This doesn't mean I am sticking my head in the sand. Like many others I have fears about what is to come in this country, particularly as it affects this beautiful world in which we live and its many inhabitants. But yesterday, for me, was about spending time gathering strength from the beauty around me and appreciating the natural world in all its glory. 

 Above, the view looking east from Yellowstone's east entrance.

This swing, left, was a discovery made as we returned to the car parked at Pahaska. I don't know who put it there and it is probably illegal but its presence tickled my fancy as a symbol of innocence and fun.