Jordan Lake. This red-spotted admiral butterfly is mud puddling. It is lapping up various minerals, salts and amino acids that it needs in order to have a balanced diet. I find it absolutely fascinating that some butterflies which we associate with flying and floating between flowers actually spend time on the ground getting some of their nutrients.
insects
CategoryCicada!
According to iNaturalist this is a Riley’s 13 year cicada; second photo is its discarded husk. It is my first cicada of any species for this year. There were more than a dozen in about a 12 foot area underneath an oak tree. Let the noise begin I reckon!
Doc Ellen’s New Gallery
I have opened a new gallery …
http://www.docellensnaturephotography.com
Cold!
Jordan Lake. The 28°F weather this morning caused the normally very sleek little brown-headed nuthatch to get all puffed up as his feathers trapped heat against his body. That did not slow down his hunting. He’s got an insect of some sort for his breakfast.
Doc Ellen’s Snippets August 18, 2023
Jordan Lake. The following critters show up as brief clips from this morning: adult chipping sparrow feeding its fledgling, immature red-headed woodpecker, blue-gray gnatcatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, pennant dragonfly, great egret and an osprey. I hope you enjoy these little pieces of my morning!
Tattered
Jordan Lake. This tiny eastern tailed-blue butterfly – about 1″ long – is showing the wear and tear of it’s daily life. The tattered wings probably came about because a bird or an insect like a praying mantis attacked and because the wings are fragile they tattered instead of allowing the butterfly to become captured. I see many butterflies, dragonflies and moths ragged like this and they fly just fine.
doc ellen's journey 