Bumble Bee

As I was mowing the lawn, I noticed that my hedges, which are in bloom, were covered with honey bees and bumble bees. I couldn't resist taking a picture of this bumble bee who was getting splattered with pollen as he worked away on the blossoms. Back in the days of Charles Darwin, bumble bees were called humble bees because their wings hum as they fly. Over the years, the name evolved into bumble, perhaps having something to do with their large clunky bodies. Although, I wouldn't recommend getting too close to any bee, my son when he was a preschooler would pet bumble bees and do so without getting stung. Those bees, just like the one in my photo, were too focused in their work to notice anything else. Even so, I would stop my son from petting them. When I'm looking at this picture, I admit that I am tempted to pet one too, but I'll resist. Instead I'll stay safe and just settle for taking pictures of them.

Carolina Wren

 

I think this Carolina wren's stance resembles that of a maestro about to conduct an orchestra which seems appropriate for a bird that likes to sing. But don't let his small size fool you into believing that he has a soft sounding voice because he certainly doesn't. These birds can really belt out their tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle song which is very distinctive. It is one of few bird calls that I can almost always identify. I expect to be hearing the Carolina wren a lot more this summer since this fellow was busy all weekend building his nest in my backyard. Here he is bringing another twig back to his home construction project.

Hummingbird

Yesterday, as I walked out onto my backdoor stairs, I saw a hummingbird. It was hovering just an arm's length away from me. My inner voice shouted, "You must get the camera," but I suppressed that urge realizing the bird would probably be gone by the time I got back. I just had to let go and enjoy the moment.  The bird seemed unaware of my presence, and I suspect it was hovering because it was wondering where to go next. I had never seen, and probably never will again, a hummingbird as up close as I did yesterday. The moment was so very magical and surreal that I felt what my father would describe as, "Days when you wish you can live forever."  Although, I admit not getting a picture of the hummingbird was slightly disappointing for me. However, the next day when I was in the Connetquot River State Park, I noticed at the feeders this hummingbird and got his picture. So, in the end, I had a complete and wonderful weekend.

Great White Egret

For several weeks, I tried getting a photo of a Great White Egret which I would see wading in the lake at Connetquot River State Park. It was always too far away for me to photograph, even with my best zoom lens. Last week, when I saw this one flying over the main house, I couldn't resist just snapping away. Later when I looked at the photos, I was delighted with this shot because I think it shows how magnificent and graceful this bird is in flight.

Damselfly

This is a damselfly, which is a close relative to the dragonfly.  Because they are so similar they can easily be mistaken for each other.  If you are fortunate enough to see one at rest, you can tell which it is by the way it holds its wings.  Dragonflies hold their wings flat and out to their sides, like an open book; Damselflies hold their wings folded together above their bodies (like this one in the picture).  Damselflies, like this male Ebony Jewelwing, eat other insects such as mosquitoes, so it was good to see this one in the Connetquot River State Park where there are many mosquitoes.

A swan family living south of Montauk Highway

This photo was taken on Sunday morning. It reminds me of a poem by Henry Austin Dobson. Here is part of Dobson's poem:

A swan and cygnets, nothing more,

Background of silver, reedy shore,

Dim shapes of rounded trees, the high

effulgence of a summer sky.

Only a snap-shot. Just a flash,

And it was fixed,- the mimic wash,

The parent bird on-oaring slow,

Her fussy little fleet in tow,

The all-pervading sultry haze,

The white lights on the waterways,-

A scene that never was before,

A scene that will be--Nevermore!

A Whodunt

On Saturday morning there was a fine mist, making the Connetquot River State Park seem like the perfect setting for a Sherlock Holmes movie. How ironic it was that I stumbled upon a real nature whodunit. There alongside the paved roadway, leading up to the fish hatchery, was a hole in the ground and egg shells scattered around it. As I was taking pictures of the scene, a park employee, driving a truck, stopped and asked me what I was looking at. I pointed to the broken eggs. He said, “It was a fox. They dig up the turtle eggs as soon as they are laid.” After we agreed on the culprit being a fox. The park employee continued his drive, and I carried on with my walk. 

Box Turtle

Box turtle in Connetquot River State Park

Whenever I see a turtle, it makes my day, because all turtles fascinate me, although I admit that the box turtle is my favorite. Today during my walk I saw a box turtle and it reminded me of a charming narrative I had read in an old Forest and Stream publication:  “You will often have stumbled over box turtles in the woods—when they have seen you coming first and stopped crawling and gone into the house and perhaps shut the door—but to see one unconsciously travelling off through the woods, is to witness something that only Sir Reynard and the wood thrushes, or maybe the little old bewhiskered wood gnomes who sweep the rabbit paths and keep the woodland picked up and neat, are privileged to witness. You will be surprised at the number of interesting things you will see if you pussy-foot through the forests, instead of breaking all the twigs under your feet, keeping your eyes shut and your heart closed.”  I’m a very quiet walker but unfortunately, the box turtle I saw today spotted me before I saw him. He did not move as he watched me, observing him. Even so, just seeing a turtle makes my day, but if I saw a bewhiskered wood gnome sweeping the rabbit paths, now that would make my year.

Chipmunk

Monday when I was walking at Connetquot River State Park, a couple asked me if I had seen anything interesting. I told them about the great white egret and a rabbit I saw, but couldn't get good pictures of. They mentioned seeing a chipmunk on some logs. And sure enough, I found it there. It looked like it was posing for me with its tail draped forward like a proud bride posing in her gown and train. It's such a pleasure when my models cooperate.