Earlier this month, I had the chance to trek down to the Dark Hollow waterfall, right off of the Skyline Drive, in the Shenandoah National Park. I hadn’t been there for a few years, so I was really looking forward to this visit. While there was not as much water flowing as the last tie I was there, Dark Hollow Falls is still a majestic sight and well worth the hike down (and back up) the hill. Being able to visit these places and having the opportunity to photograph moving water is one of the things that I truly enjoy. Here are a few images from the day.
Chilly, Rainy Day in the Backyard ;-)
Today was a chilly, rainy day here, so I spent some time capturing images of the little creature in the backyard.. Here are a few images for your viewing pleasure! Please enjoy!
Pileated Woodpecker
I’ve posted images of our local pileated woodpeckers on this site before, but the other day I noticed that this particular young lady was really enjoying the food I put out for them. So here are a few images for you to enjoy!! Just click on the image to cycle through the pictures..
Small guest from outdoors...
Well, it’s the time of year when all the little creatures are out and about. This little guy was hanging out on some flowers brought in from outside. Cute isn’t he?
It's been a while since I posted anything...
Well it’s been a while since I posted anything… This “stay at home” stuff has put quite a lot or pressure on being able to get out and take pictures ;-) But today's photos are a little bit different. As I walked out the front door this afternoon, I found this little guy sitting on the corner of our front porch (searching for a warn spot I'm guessing). So, or course, I went back inside and grabbed a camera to capture these images. And for a while, the little toad put up with my picture taking, then he decided that he liked hiding in the grass better. This particular toad was only about two inches (five centimeters) from head to tail, but he had big eyes ;-). Enjoy the photos...
Praying Mantis
For me, one of the most interesting insects that we encounter is the Praying Mantis. Mantises are always welcome in the garden as they have a voracious appetite for other insects. We’ve been watching a praying mantis egg sac for a few weeks and the little guys finally emerged on April 22nd. The small mantises in the images appeared to be about 1/4” / 6.5mm in length. A few images of the event are attached.
A little background for those interested…Each praying mantis egg case will hatch about 100-300 tiny mantises, all at once. In order to hatch they'll need several weeks of warm weather, so they can "sense" that summer (and pest insects for food) has arrived.
Manteses have a complex life cycle, starting with cannibalistic mating and including an extended egg period, followed by a nymph stage and finally adulthood. You can find praying mantis egg sacs naturally in much of North America (you can also buy mantis egg sacs for use in the garden if needed). Females lay eggs on twigs and stems (as shown in the included images) - but you can also find them on walls, fences and other structures.
