A new experience for me

 New experience for me

We aren't travelling much, so I have to look for my natural history observations at a different scale around my home. Lately, I have been watching the diversity of bees attracted to the flowers in our containers. I also had a chance to see the next generation being provisioned as I watched a solitary bee create its nest and cap it over the course of several days. It would fly up with loafs of pollen and take them in to the top of a bamboo stake. It came and went quickly, but at the end, when it was capping its next, I was able to get a few photos.

The bee flew up with piece of leaf which it appeared to chew into a paste and used it to plug the end of the nest. I hope I have a new set of pollinators in the spring

World Photography Day 2021

Flickr is holding a World Photography Day Contest 2021 so I sorted through my images and submitted a few of my favorites:

In the spotlight

Wild Ride

Ballston

Midland painted turtle hatching

Sunset in Spruce

In Spruce Wisconsin, near my wife's family farm on Christmas Eve 2012.

Our neighbor

This American toad has taken up residence in one of the small pools in our back yard. He's so busy singing that he is ignoring me. If you look closely, you can see the vibrations of his call in the water. This was from 2013. In 2014 we also have a toad calling from the pool, but it is not clear if it is him returning, or another guy. Here's to his luck with attracting lady toads.

Palm Wabler

Palm Wabler, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Anhinga Trail Everglades National Park. I'll confess to not being good with small birds. I am wondering whether this might be a palm warbler? This one of the few times I have been around a warbler here it was not perturbed by humans walking by. If you have walked around Anhinga Trail, you know there are a lot of people.

Key deer fawn and doe

Key deer fawn and doe, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Key deer are very tolerant on human presence and you often get to see their behavior close up. It was amazing to spend time watching them.

Urchin shell on the beach

Urchin shell on the beach, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

This was such a lovely mix of colors and textures. It brings back the smell of the sea, not that is all good

At Buda Castle

At Buda Castle, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

This is, on this day and at this time, my least interesting photo. I like this photo, and I as I have said before I have many photos less interesting than this one.

Parfrey's Glen

Parfrey's Glen 6, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Parfrey's Glen Wisconsin back in 2007 before a major flood in 2008 & 2010 that caused extensive damage. It closed in 2011, but is now again open. http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/information-center/other-natural-areas/parfreys-glen/

Key deer doe and fawn

Key deer doe and fawn, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

It is always special to see rare species, but this past week we were able to see several endangered species. We saw key deer, an American crocodile, miami blue butterflies and I am sure others. These deer were hanging out on the beach after a storm the night before. At the Deer Run B&B On Big Pine Key, Florida Keys.

Sun setting over old Biochemistry

Sun setting over old Biochemistry, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Interesting that I find this in my Flickr stream. We just moved from the building from which this was taken to the building over which the sun was setting.

Unfortunately incarcerated Peromyscus

Peromyscus, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

We caught this little Peromyscus in the garage where it liked nesting in our car's engine compartment. She or he (too much of a gentleman to look) got greasy from the bait in the trap, so it stayed with us for a few days to get cleaned up before releasing it into the park. It seemed to do ok with it's unfortunate incarceration, eating and drinking heartily, and when released, it dived energetically into a large pile of brush. I am not sure if it is P. maniculatus or P. leucopus, both are found locally.

Less than spotless water lily

Less than spotless water lily, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

The flies loved the water lilies on the lake, but with the reflectionI couldn't pass it up. Pickerel Lake, Oneida Co, Wisconsin

Bananaquit

Bananaquit, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Another photo that makes me happy.

Saint Mary Lake and Island

Saint Mary Lake and Island, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

More hankering to travel driven by photos that I have taken in the past. Here is another one.

Rosen Shingle Creek Nature trail

Rosen Shingle Creek Nature trail, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I know that many people will not understand this, but this a a little slice of paradise, especially because of the alligators, snakes, and frogs.

North Umpqua by the Steamboat Inn

North Umpqua by the Steamboat Inn, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

For no other reason than it is a beautiful place.

angel baby holding a skull

angel baby holding a skull, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

For no particular reason. I'm just in an mood for the absurd.

Wies'n 2008 - Hofbräu Festhalle

Wies'n 2008 - Hofbräu Festhalle, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I could use one of these very large beers available here at Wies'n at the Hofbräu Tent. What is interesting is that the Hofbräu is a state-owned brewery. I like that beer is important enough that the government considers it worthwhile to participate. The beer is quite tasty.

I have no idea why some one would want this above their door

I have no idea why some one would want this above their door, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

This reclining nude soldier is wearing what appears to be a German helmet and throwing a potato-masher grenade. On the street where our apartment was in Budapest, Hungary.

I think this wins the oddest thing by a door competition.