AstroGypsies

We’ll start with the big…Eagles, Bald Eagles. I know when they are here as the Loon starts it’s warning howl, the seagulls as well, time to get off my duff, grab the camera and watch what is going down! In fact one seagull has become quite ballsy and has chased this eagle off several times, right on it’s tail, maybe they have nine seagull lives like cats! Ha! The Bald Eagle did finally give up after a circular route around of this end of the lake that didn’t get him any closer to the Osprey and the free fish meal.

I’m sure an eagle has quite the bite, did you know dragonflies bite too? An expert in the field assured me they do, especially the Eastern Pondhawks, the “Green Death” my friend wrote-one of the fiercest dragonflies. He said they can’t really hurt you more than a slight pinch. He used to catch them, checking for parasitic mites: when he released it, it would loop back, grab his finger and bite it before flying off. A dragonfly with a chip on it’s…wing, I guess;) Cranky are they! Thanks Bruce for all the amazing information you pass our way!

You have to love a dragonfly with racing stripes! The Blue Dasher is my kind of bug;) Ha! These guys above just showed up yesterday morning. I stood in the shade, melting into a pool of my own sweat as I watched them. I have two new ones as well that I have never seen before! It’s wild what you notice if you take the time to sit and watch or maybe it’s just being in the right place at the right time!

A Harlequin Darner and a Stream Cruiser…sounds like a wild pair;) I knew as soon as I saw the patterns on their bodies they were something different! There are currently only 14 records in Lanark on iNaturalist for the Harlequin Darner! These guys are moving North with the ticks! I’d rather have them than the ticks thank you!

I am always amazed how the different species come and go with the changes in heat and humidity it seems. It’s been dominated here by the Chalkfronted Corporals, so many dragonflies change from the time they are born and morph into other colours, the females are often completely different than the males so it’s a tough job to know who is who!

Then there are the Rackettails and Whitefaces. I get some of those, especially the dot tailed whiteface…easypeasy!

Then what I call the tuxedo dragonflies;) Ha! Common Whitetails and Twelve Spotted Skimmers…

Then there are the Baskettails and Four Spotted Skimmers…0_0…the list goes on! I’m doing my best at remembering all these guys!

I’m still working at getting a picture of the giant Green and Blue Darners flying over the swamp! Wait for the Calico Pennants and Widow skimmers as well! Who knew there were SO many dragonflies! I love the tiny Bluets and Sprites. And you thought those were only in fantasy books Sprites? Or a fizzy drink 😉 or a small Austin Healy car? Ha!

I spent one morning just walking around the blooming Wild Rugosa Rose bush, which thankfully the deer hadn’t eaten all the buds off, like last year! I was watching Rocket chase frogs. The array of bugs was wild! That was in an hour!

Our world:) The Butterflies have been quieter than in past years. As I walk out to check the swans I am running into more and Eastern Giant Swallowtails.

When these guys are flying by quickly I often have a hard time telling them apart until they land and open their wings. On the left, the darker coloured one is an Eastern Giant Swallowtail and the one on the right is a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail:)

Such amazing creatures! They are enjoying the last of the honeysuckle blooms and hanging baskets.

They are not the only ones! We’ve had some either Red Spotted or White Admirals…sounds so nautical;) Consensus is still out on what exactly they are. The Little Wood Satyrs and Eastern Commas are easier to identify! And we had a Viceroy fly by as well.

Walking out on the road gives you different vegetation that what is around the house. We do have a lot of wildflowers but not like along the road. I dread when they come and mow the sides all down…poor bugs! Much less to eat. “Human safety” comes first…well crap on that, slow down morons! 😉 We are legislating the human race into stupidity. I read an article when someone complained there was no “sign” telling them that ticks were present…Darwin’s theory works well, if let to work;) OK, the road butterflies now!

It’s not all butterflies. I’ve been watching the bees, so far just the Common Eastern Bumblebee and maybe a Two Spotted Bumblebee and an array of other cool bugs!

Where’s the spiders you ask? Arachnophobes look away! Ha! A very cute Whitman’s Jumping Spider and a nest of Baby Cross Orbweavers I think! The shadows killed me!

Have I bugged you enough? Ha! I seem to be infested with bugs;) Wasp the problem? Living a beetleful life? Ok, enough…sigh:) Bee all that you can bee;) I’ll save the reptiles and the birds for tomorrow;) I was hoping to get out to see the Loon babies, there are two I’ve been told but the wind is howling today, maybe tomorrow. We’ve had some nice sunrises, thank you Groot for getting me up to look! Thankfully the smoke has cleared off but it made for some beautiful light!

We live in a magical world:) I’ll stop bugging you now…hasta mañana for turtles and more birds!