Thursday, August 12, 2010

Creature Feature

It's always enjoyable to have you folks accompany me on one of my walks. So please, slap on the sunscreen, pour yourself a coffee and shut the door behind you as we head out to visit our surroundings.



A small but vocal frog thinks he's well hidden in the shallow shoreline of the pond. Think again, little croaker.




Not too far away this 12-Spotted skimmer lights briefly upon a blade of tall grass.




Another winged beauty poses for us on an upper cedar branch.




Not even attempting to hide, the spider has woven a splendid web overnight.





Almost every day this summer, a Painted turtle basks in the sunlight of my local pond.





A hungry chipmunk greedily fills its cheeks from a pet food bowl which was left on a front deck.




That loud cry you hear is that of the Blue jay - snapped through a pane of glass. He eagerly awaits the peanuts which are left for the squirrels. He's often the first on the scene, forcing the bushy-tailed cuties to find something else...




Like apples. It's a good thing our park is filled with apple trees.





On our way home, a last glimpse of the pond. A Dad and his young son have stopped to chat with the ducks.


Thanks for joining me on my walk around the park. The company, as usual, was just grand.

This was a scheduled post. If all goes according to plans, we're probably back up at the cottage for a few days. I'll be around to read comments and catch up with your blog posts shortly after I return.

45 comments:

LadyFi said...

Wow - how do you get such fantastic shots of dragonflies and butterflies? I never seem to be able to capture them because they move too fast.

I loved this walk. Thanks for sharing.

Izzy said...

love, love, love. thanks for the creature feature this morning.

Brian Miller said...

woot. i love these walks hilary...some of my fav playmates in these pictures...smiles. some great captures...

dave hambidge said...

Here in Britain the instructions would read, "Waterproof and wellies on; stiff snifter of whisky inside; close the door against the gale blowing!"

Shammickite said...

Love the closeup of the dragonfly wings, I must remember to look at dragonflies in more detail in the future. How lovely for you to be spending time at a summer cottage. No doubt you'll come home with more pictures of Benny misbehaving!
August already! Summer is winding down.

ellen abbott said...

love the creatures.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks for inviting us along on the walk. They're magnificent.

Anonymous said...

Love the dragonfly and the chipmunk! And that squirrel looks black! Thanks for taking us along!

Lisa said...

A lovely walk Hilary, the perfect teaser as I get ready to leave for the cottage. See you up there in a few hours!

Cricket said...

It amazes me how much your park is like mine. Really, you could have taken so many of those shots there, too, except our squirrels are gray.

Love the frog, though I think he's not too far from an unpleasant encounter with one of the previously shown herons.

I dunno... I'm in a mood lately. how about Jokerman, by Bob Dylan. For some reason unclear, that comes to mind. Hope you're having a great vacation.

Cricket said...

p.s. - There's another State park, near where I grew up, where I used to walk regularly. There was one trail in particular, wooded on the right, open meadow on the left, a lake barely visible ahead. At the right time of day, it would be swarmed with beautiful dragonflies. Love them too.

How can anyone see that and not marvel at the wonders of creation?

DJan said...

Fantastic shots, as usual. I always enjoy learning from you how to see what is around me everywhere.

Maggie May said...

I just loved the creatures, especially that little one in the bowl. I do hope it didn't get eaten.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Daryl said...

That spider must be exhausted after spinning all night ... great shots all

Dianne said...

Dad and son is such an endearing shot, with the red wagon waiting to take them home

I love all the critters - especially the frog and the turtle and the spider and the squirrel in the bowl and ...

Tabor said...

You do live in a lovely countryside, but even better is that you are so observant of it!

messymimi said...

Sammy Jay is usually a very bold thief, isn't he?

There is very little as beautiful as a spider web gleaming with dewdrops at sunrise.

Thanks for the tour.

Bossy Betty said...

Loved our walk this morning. The turtle is adorable. The chipmunk looked very comfortable too!

Suldog said...

I think it's amazing that you find so much life on your walks. Or, perhaps, it's amazing that I don't on mine. In any case, lovely photos, as usual, and thanks for making my day happier!

Reb said...

Beautiful as always Hilary. I love the close up of the grey squirrel and the dragonfly. Well, all of them actually.

ethelmaepotter! said...

The spider web is amazing - I love how you focused on the spider, making the edges of the web fade into nothingness - suggestive that it goes on and on and on...

And I never tire of your incredible black squirrels!

ds said...

Wonderful walk, Hilary. Thanks for letting us tag along. Love that spider web!

Lori said...

Thanks for another great walk with you...love the little creatures you found along the way...such beautiful photo's Hilary. Hope you've had a nice refreshing time away! :)

Pauline said...

willing to walk with you anytinme :) wonderful shots!

VM Sehy Photography said...

That chipmunk is too cute! And that turtle has some very nice colors. You certainly are blessed with quite the cast of characters around your pond.

Oh, I also wanted to let you know that I have left you the Beautiful Blogger award. You can pick it up at the following post:

http://vmsehyphotography.blogspot.com/

Gary's third pottery blog said...

turtle!!!!! Mr Chipmunk! gosh, great pics here :)

Mental P Mama said...

That chipmunk made me a little teary. So adorable...

Friko said...

these are all little miracles.

photowannabe said...

Thanks Hilary for taking me on your walk. I did remember to shut the door. Didn't want Hurley, the next door neighbors cat making him self too comfortable.
You really featured some fantastic creatures. Great closeups. I love the crooker "hiding".

Sueann said...

Such beautiful photos!! Thanks for taking me along on your walk!
Hugs
SueAnn

CiCi said...

The butterfly is sporting the colors of the American flag. Nice. That is neighborly of him.

Cloudia said...

Wonderful. Loved this!





Warm Aloha from Waikiki :)

Comfort Spiral

Unspoken said...

I love the little frog! CUTE!

steviewren said...

Hilary, your photos just keep getting better and better. two of my favorites are the frog and the Blue jay, but the chipmunk in the pet bowl was pretty special too.

Dave said...

More great pictures Hilary. I am amazed at the variation of critters you are able to photograph - Dave

Karen said...

Ahh, thanks for the walk. I love the Dad and son pic. Your animals are always lovely. That chipmunk is a doll. Have a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

If I had a 'real life' award I could give you and not just an internet award for the most perfect and delightful photos in the blogging world, well.... I'd do just that!

Di

Dawning Inspiration said...

What an amazing place you get to experience....great captures too!

Thumbelina said...

*sigh*
Thank you. (All 3 posts on this page!)

Hope you enjoy the cottage. :0)

Anonymous said...

Love these close-ups! You truly have an eye for detail and a steady hand with the camera. I'm so glad you share with us.

The turtle looks like a red-eared slider -- or do painted turtles also have those markings?

Nancy said...

Such a lovely little walk. I always feel refreshed stopping by here.

the Bag Lady said...

Fabulous photos, my friend! Love the dragonfly and the squirrel and the.... aw, heck, ALL of them! :)

Country Girl said...

I hope you're having a wonderful time at the cottage, my friend. I loved our walk.
Love the picture of the skimmer.

Hilary said...

What a beautiful bunch of comments. You folks sure know how to make me smile. Thanks for that. I'll be back to my regular blogging/responding/visiting schedule as soon as the cottage season winds down. For now, please know how much I appreciate your kindness... a lot. Thank you. :)

lime said...

the frog is adorable and i am a great fan of chipmunks. the one that melts my heart is the dad taking time with his boy.