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| Orb Spider |
Today was one of those days that we shouldn't have been on the trails. In the back of my mind I questioned hiking in the Buenos Aires Wildlife Preserves because of the bugs. It had gotten cooler so I thought it would be safer. Wrong. So this post is dedicated to all the critters who help manage the bugs:)
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| Kingbird getting that bug |
It was a quick run and shoot around the 2 mile path. The mosquitoes were out of control! But I wanted that iconic "Kingbird getting the bug shot" so I stood still while 5 mosquitoes landed on me and sucked my blood. But I got the shot:) Again, there were many Kingbirds sitting on the tree tops swooping in half circles for the bugs.
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| Female Anna's Hummbird |
And while most of the hummers have fled the state, several stick around like this female Anna's Hummingbird. Residents of Southern Arizona all year. Hummingbirds "hawk" for lots of bugs this time of year.
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| Say's Phoebe |
A first photo debut for Las Aventuras, this Say's Phoebe also "hawks" for insects on low perches.
And then there is bug on bug action. But while on the trails, we ran for our lives. Above us circled this Turkey Vulture waiting for us to die from all the mosquito bites....well that was Pat's thought. So while we had a quick jaunt on the boardwalk around the streams and small ponds, it was still a productive outing:) More tomorrow....
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| Turkey Vulture |
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That orb spider eats another spider, then who eats it in turn. I wonder if birds eat spiders, i don't think so, they eat worms and larvae. So what preys on those birds? Humans? What about that vulture, it is so big and scary! It will die and be preyed upon by micro organisms! LOL. Happy Weekend.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos - love the last flight shot :) The biting bugs sound horrendous :(
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your support and interest in the badgers by the way - greatly appreciated.
It is amazing what birders will put up to see the birds. Sounds gruesome getting eaten by vultures after being attacked by mosquitoes. Glad you have some awesome photos from your outing. Have a great bug-free day!
ReplyDeleteI admire your indomitable spirit and how much you sacrifice for your art. Well you play your role in Nature - at least 5 mosquitoes got their dinner :)
ReplyDeleteDon't come downunder then - you might get WAY more mosquitoes than you bargained for!!!
ReplyDeleteMuy chulas las fotos.. Impresionante el Buitre.. Saludos..
ReplyDeleteOnce again, these are some great shots! Sorry about the bugs!
ReplyDeleteWell worth a nip or six. Grand shot.
ReplyDeleteMam nadzieję, że tylko 5 komarów Cię dopadło, ale na pocieszenie powiem, że zdjęcia Ci to wynagrodziły, bo są bardzo ładne. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteI hope that only 5 of mosquitoes caught up with you, but as a consolation to say that you are wynagrodziły photos, because they are very nice. Yours.
All great photos Chris!
ReplyDeletedon't scratch
ReplyDelete...love the vultures
...so ugly they are wonderful
and they soar so beautifully
the vulture waiting for you to die was too funny! here, you'd have probably succumbed to west nile...
ReplyDeleteGreat photo's Chris.....i like that last one very much.
ReplyDeletegreetings, Joop
Fantastic work..very beautiful pics
ReplyDeleteawesome shots chris! especially the spider!!
ReplyDeletei know...i'm behind...ugh...how quickly that can happen! i'll be back to walk backwards! =)
Great pictures, too bad about the mosquitoes they can sure ruin a leisurely walk.
ReplyDeleteThanks for enduring the torture. That shot of the kingbird going for a bug is excellent. What size lens are you using for birds?
ReplyDeleteSo nice to be home and watching the birds discover the freshly filled feeders. Yet even about 30 feet away with the 200mm they seem so small in the photo.
Hola:) I'm using the 200 as well. My trick is getting as close as I can to them and .....tracking their flight. I can predict where they are going to fly if I don't scare them off. So I move like a turtle and watch how they circle...the flycatchers, hummers, kingbirds, etc are easy as are the larger birds but those damned warblers are tricky. And even if you get them, they are so small that they "fuzz" in the picture. My Portal shots were some tricky ones. When you come to visit, we can practice with the camera at one of our high density bird areas:) Kathie will probably be jotting down notes and concentrating with binos on the numbers:) But the 200 is much needed for the birds.
DeleteIt looks nasty, but, never mind, you've got always the Orb spider, tantalizing. The one that I love, is the Turkey Vulture, fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind spiders as long as they are outside. love the webs. That Turkey Vulture looks hungry. Run!
ReplyDeleteYipes.... I hate it when there are bugs while we are hiking.. We usually wear those OFF Clip-ons --which really help. BUT--even when gnats fly around my face, they drive me crazy. Mosquitos are the worst --but luckily, we don't have many of them here. The worst thing in this area are the CHIGGERS--especially if you are hiking off-trail.... Yuk!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos though despite the bugs.
Betsy
It certainly was productive Chris, I know the Orb spiders do a good job with the bugs, but they creep me out totally!
ReplyDeleteFantastic captures, Chris. When walking through a spider web I always wonder if the spider is crawling up my back or in my hair.
ReplyDeleteI do not get the whole turkey vulture fascination. Once when back East I was riding around with my cousin (who loves to take pictures, too), and we saw a turkey vulture in the middle of the road eating roadkill and she went bezerk. We had to stop and get a *gulp* picture of the turkey vulture eating roadkill. I guess if you like birds there are "no bad birds". :-)
ReplyDeleteNow that's dedication, Chris! :-)
ReplyDeleteSpiders! oh, my.
ReplyDelete