Jul 062014
 

One of my first sights, upon entering a patch of woods adjacent to the wetlands at Newman Wetlands Center, was of an adult five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), a common species of lizard that is quite abundant on our back patio this time of year.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Along the first stretch of boardwalk, I encountered this red ant resting on the railing.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Continuing down the same stretch of boardwalk, I found a popular trailside perching area for Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis), a dragonfly species common in the Eastern United States.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

I try to be an equal-opportunity photographer, including a mix of good, bad, and ugly.  When it comes to flies, though, I often hesitate.  I am proud to say that I photographed this fly and added it to this blog, all the time thinking it was a vicious deer fly.  Now I have to revise my opinion of this creature.  According to folks at BugGuide on Facebook, it is actually a member of the family Bombyliidae, or bee flies. It is quite possibly Xenox tigrinus, or another member of that genus.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Further along, my next discovery was of another Blue Dasher willing to be photographed (the dragonflies were everywhere, but most darted too quickly from spot to spot, and/or had perches that were out of my camera’s macro range).  This is my favorite dragonfly portrait of this particular outing.  But I will be back again soon.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Stepping onto terra firma once again, we immediately saw this female Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in the path ahead.  Valerie estimates her age at 75 to 100 years, and suspects that she may have been in search of a suitable location for laying eggs.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

A short side spur led up the ridge, gaining about twenty feet in elevation and offering a view out over the wetland.  In a tree hollow near the top, I glimpsed this insect, which was reluctant to be photographed.  It is probably a Brown Lacewing (family Hermerobiidae).

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

After so many photographs of insects (particularly dozens of dragonfly shots, nearly all Blue Dashers), I paused to take a couple of wetland plant photographs.  The first one, I admit, I took because of all the Least Skippers feeding on it.  The white globe of tiny flowers turns out to belong to the Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis).  Now that I have a name for the flower, and appreciate how unusual it is, I ought to go back and photograph it properly!

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

At last, a photograph simply in appreciation of the late afternoon sunlight shining through the underside of a leaf — in this instance, Common Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia).

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

On one such Arrowleaf, an Ebony Jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata) was perched.  Although these damselflies are often quite timid, this one allowed me to get quite close with my macro lens.

 

 

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

On a couple of occasions, the damselfly opened its wings for just a moment.  I caught this once, but my 1/30-second exposure was too slow to avoid some blur to the wings.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Nearing trails’ end, I paused to enjoy the reflection of wetland plants and dead branches in a pool.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Just before the final section of boardwalk on the main loop trail, I saw an Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)doing a bit of late-day feeding.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

My ramble through Newman Wetlands took over two hours.  In addition to the main loop, I also walked a few of the upland trails.  There, wildlife was less abundant (or, at least, much less readily apparent).  However, the sunlight through the trees afforded several stunning forest landscape photographs.  These will be included in a Part Three post later today.

May 202014
 

This afternoon, my wife and I went for a four and a half mile hike in the Eastern Palisades section of Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, just inside the Perimeter on the northwest side of Atlanta.  During our outing, I got the chance to get “up close and personal” with a variety of critters living there.  I am still reaping the result — two ticks found so far, and counting.  These photos renew my appreciation for the rich diversity of life on Earth, and particularly here in the Atlanta region — even just a short distance from I-285!

The first creature I encountered was a gorgone checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne gorgone), considered by the Butterflies of Georgia Field Guide to be a “local and uncommon resident”, though abundant in the Midwest.  It frequents open woodlands and stream corridors; I found this one on a trail along the Chattahoochee River.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

A bit further down the trail, I noticed a southern golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata sexpunctata).  This is one of three species of tortoise beetles found in the United States.  I am proud to say that I did not disturb him (or her) while taking this photograph, because the beetle’s dome remains a bronze color.  When disturbed, the beetle will display black spots against the bronze.  Tortoise beetles feed on a variety of host plants, including sweet potato.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Nearby, I noticed a large black ant on a leaf, and it noticed me, too.  It opened its jaws wide, holding its ground against my camera lens pointed in its direction.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

The riverside trail eventually climbed steeply upward toward a ridge perhaps 100 feet above the water’s edge.  There, I encountered rhododendrons in bloom.  For a change of pace, I photographed the blossoms; only later did I realize that the blooms contained tiny eight-legged pollen mites.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

We took a spur trail downhill toward the Chattahoochee River again.  On our way down off the ridge, I noticed this juvenile common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), its shell perhaps an inch and a half across, standing on the trail.  He (or she) was a bit annoyed at my ministrations with the camera, as you can see by his (or her) expressions in these photographs.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Finally, toward the end of our walk, shortly before we headed down off the final ridge to the river’s floodplain again, I stumbled upon a patent leather beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus) on the path.  After seeing a close-up of this beetle’s mouthparts, I am comforted by the fact that it feeds on rotting wood.  This beetle was perhaps one and a half inches long — nearly the same size as the young snapping turtle!

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

May 182014
 

On a dripping, chilly afternoon I set out in search of the latest “news” along Piney Woods Church Road.  As usual, I found all sorts of fascinating images of water droplets balanced on tree leaves or cradled by blades of grass.  I also observed one intrepid red ant braving the elements on a Chinese privet.  I spent several minutes photographing it, though most of the time it moved at a determined pace, preventing me from getting a picture in sharp focus.  This one was an exception.

 

Rainy Day Ant