While walking a trail behind the dunes on Montauk Point State Park, I almost stepped on this critter. She was the perfect coloring to match the dried grasses and sand that we were walking on. If she hadn’t have moved I would crushed her. She was quite big too—easily 5″-6″ long. I’m glad she stuck around so I could get a good shot!
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 50mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/300″ exposure
While bushwacking up above the Camel’s Hump Nordic trails today, I came across several trout lilies in full bloom. Kneeling down to get a good shot, I noticed this congregation of false blister beetles feeding on the pollen and mating. According to Mary Holland’s excellent “Naturally Curious Day By Day”, these beetles are commonly found on trout lilies (the lilies being one of the early spring ephemerals) where they eat and do their business pretty much at the same time.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro, ISO 800, f/11, 1/160″ exposure.
Yesterday morning offered a good time to shoots some dew soaked spider webs. A quick cruise of our yards and fields with my macro lens offered up plenty to focus on. This small spider (maybe a banded garden spider?) posed patiently for me in her web.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/5, 1/400″ exposure.
This little blue damselfly was zipping about in the bracken ferns along Delfrate Road as I walked the other day. The shade of blue is quite striking to my eye!
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 1600, f/10, 1/250″ exposure
This little solitary bee was diligently gathering pollen on a rough-fruited cinquefoil blossom in our front field. I love the detail revealed at the center of the flower.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/8, 1/800″ exposure.
Chicory—a true flower of summer—is blooming along East Street. This unidentified butterfly was enjoying the nectar and paid very little attention to me as I snapped several photos.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 140mm, ISO 500, f/6.3, 1/1300″ exposure.
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Hummingbird moths are wonderfully surprising insects. The first time I saw one many years ago, I had no idea what I was looking at. It moved like a hummingbird, but obviously wasn’t one. Nor was it a large bumble bee. There are two varieties of hummingbird moth common to North America—the Snowberry Clearwing and the Hummingbird Clearwing (pictured above). The reddish coloration is a clear indication of the latter. This little guy was quite busy at the azalea blooming by our kitchen window. Panasonic GX8, Lumix 24-140mm lens @ 61mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/2000″ exposure. |
A hover fly pauses briefly in our front field. Thanks for the ID Everett!
Panasonic Lumix GM5, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 140mm, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/250″ exposure.
Up close with a tachina fly living in a yellow world.
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro, ISO 800, f/13, 1/1600″ exposure.
John Hadden Photography 