Uploads from Vicki's Nature

a friendly Banded pennant

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:52:44 -0700

male Banded pennant (Celithemis fasciata)
a nearby dam, Georgia

We just had 3 more days of rain and t-storms - the butterflies haven't had a chance this season. But odes are good.

Blue dasher on seed pods

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:12:21 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Male Blue dasher over nearby pond, Georgia
Shot with my SX30

Harvester - RARE

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:34:50 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Georgia mountains
May 2013

This little guy was only the second Harvester I've ever come across. And believe it or not, you can make them appear by whacking on their tree or shrub. The problem is - which shrub ;-) When my husband didn't show the appropriate appreciation upon seeing this elusive little guy (a lifer to him), I told him that he would see Jesus before he'd see this species again. THAT got his attention ...

Happy Butterfly Monday !!!

Harvester backlit - RARE

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:34:50 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Georgia mountains
May 2013

This rare little butterfly looks like no other and doesn't perch on flowers. Its caterpillars are unique in being carnivorous. See other photo.

black Calico pennant - mutation or possible hybrid - June 2013

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 07:20:08 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Black Calico pennant with aberrant wing markings. Could be mutation or Calico x Banded hybrid. I found one like it a year ago at the same spot. See photos below for comparison.

Vogel State Park
Georgia

Shot with Canon SX30 (my S5 is failing). We were in the mountains yesterday - I'm catching up with everyone today. Have a great weekend!

Black Calico pennant - shot June 2012

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 07:20:07 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

aberrant black Calico - mutation or possible Calico x Banded hybrid
Vogel State Park
Georgia

a normal male Calico pennant for comparison

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 07:20:06 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Vogel State Park
Georgia mountains

Shot with the Canon SX30

Widow skimmer, male

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:48:17 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

It isn't summer until the Widow skimmers are flying! I think these big showy dragonflies look a lot like butterflies.

We had storms come through last night with a tornado scare ... and lots of our flowering shrubs are lying on the ground this morning. I hope they all pop back up. Have a good Friday ...

Blackwater clubtail, big male

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:41:35 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

These big rare dragons are 3 inches long and are still flying. Happy Dragonfly Thursday!!

Banded pennant, teneral female

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:27:01 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

We came across several of these in tall grass near a reservoir. Banded's appear to be a species that likes larger bodies of water but can also be found at ponds. She has yellow markings down her tail that are often very reflective in tenerals. I remember the first female I ever saw - even though it was lying on grass I thought she had some of the prettiest markings I had ever seen.

Gray petaltail (Tachopteryx thoreyi) - last of the season

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:13:36 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Gibbs Gardens/Georgia

This female was the only petaltail we could find this weekend as their season wraps up. Very large, rare, primitive dragonflies that are docile but won't let you pick them up. My husband was convinced she was dead as we walked up - but I laughed and assured him she wasn't dead. She then flew up and landed on his shirt ;-)

Winner, You Rock!, First page mystery show (admins choose entry), 6-13

Gray petaltail - last of the season

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:13:34 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Gibbs Gardens
Georgia

This is a difficult dragonfly to find because they come from rare seepy habitat and camouflage themselves perched on tree bark. Fortunately they like to land on you.

little glassywing on pickerel weed

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 03:31:08 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Gibbs Gardens
Georgia

Skippers are still few and far between. I'm seeing the most larger butterflies at the wetlands where it's tough to get good shots. It's all about odes right now.

Happy Butterfly Monday!

Swamp azaleas (Viscosum) - June bloomers that smell like cinnamon

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:26:20 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

Gibbs Gardens/Georgia

The Gardens have 1,000 varieties of azaleas, some that bloom into the summer and fall. These beautiful white & red blossoms are in their full glory now and you smell cinnamon as you walk by!

Sunday prayers: no matter where you stand politically, you likely feel our nation has gone off the tracks. I believe God is at work - let's pray for his will to be done. And continue to pray for Pastor Said Abedini, the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for being a Christian. Have a blessed Sunday!

American Baking Competition - filmed @ Gibbs Gardens/Georgia

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:26:19 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

When we started watching this summer TV show, my husband thought the location looked like Gibbs Gardens. It is! Somewhere in the gardens they moved their big white tent and set up kitchens for the show. Filmed here in my county in Georgia & hosted by Jeff Foxworthy.

'tween pondhawk

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:16:07 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

This immature male pondhawk is turning from solid green to adult blue - making him a very colorful dragonfly. He'll keep the green face. Males start turning from the tail tip up, as you can see in the photo below of an even more immature male. You don't see many at this stage below so it must not take long. Green & blue pair below that.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Winner, 15 Challenges, Mostly green, 6-13

immature male Pondhawk turning blue

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 04:30:57 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

They turn from solid green starting with the tip of the tail.

summer fleabane

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:49:04 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

A break from the dragonflies today ... anyone know the little bugs?

ID: parasitic bees per buggide: "possibly Holcopasites calliopsidis. That species is parasitic on other bees and lacks the long hairs most bees use to carry pollen."

Mr. Sanddragon

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 02:07:06 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

In accordance with their name, Common Sanddragons hang out in sandy areas. But the first one I ever saw was on one of my sticks in the backyard. This guy's fairly friendly as long as you don't get too close. He's the first sanddragon I've seen in two years.

Happy Dragonfly Thursday!

first Widow skimmer of the year

nobody@flickr.com (Vicki's Nature) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:12:21 -0700

Vicki's Nature posted a photo:

I don't see a lot of female Widow skimmers so it was nice to see her all fresh with her gold tail. She was in the wetlands which is also unusual - not the usual place for a pond dragonfly. She looks like she's covered in pollen.

I saw foty Band-winged meadowhawks and a 12-spotted skimmer yesterday, so it's been a great ode week. May rain for the next 3 days ;-(