Animals in your garden

[roadrunner]

I've been seeing a hummingbird visit the yard virtually everyday, but he will not wait around as I get my camera...will have much more hummingbird plants next year...

I saw a bunch of birds eating my sunflower seeds yesterday morning; one is a cardinal (of course), but the other is what I believe is a House Finch -- female.

The only reason I know of House finches is because I've seen a male (more colorful) hanging around long enough that I was finally able to ID it by looking over "mugshots"; however, he also doesn't wait around long enough until I get my camera....

 

[Beverly]

Very nice @roadrunner...you might keep an eye out for hummingbird nests. I was surprised to find they were nesting in an overgrown Senecio vine in my previous garden. I was able to observe them egg to first flight without being overly intrusive and of course, very sparing with the camera to avoid camera flash damage, etc. They will at times nest quite close to the ground, like maybe 3-4 ft if the habitat is right. You may see lots of dark, tar-like droppings that provide a nesting clue. I observed a few successful (2 egg per nest, sometimes one gets booted out), nestings that were a joy. First one egg is deposited in a partially built nest and then a couple days later, a second egg is deposited in the completed nest.

 

[marlingardener]

Early in the morning on our way to the barn, we see myriads of dragonflies in the barn lot. I don't know why they congregate there, but it sure makes for a happy start to the day!

 

[LIcenter]

I'm starting to see quite a few hummingbird moths in my gardens. Mostly on the butterfly bushes, but this little guy prefered a little phlox juice instead.

 

[roadrunner]

Very nice @roadrunner...you might keep an eye out for hummingbird nests. I was surprised to find they were nesting in an overgrown Senecio vine in my previous garden. I was able to observe them egg to first flight without being overly intrusive and of course, very sparing with the camera to avoid camera flash damage, etc. They will at times nest quite close to the ground, like maybe 3-4 ft if the habitat is right. You may see lots of dark, tar-like droppings that provide a nesting clue. I observed a few successful (2 egg per nest, sometimes one gets booted out), nestings that were a joy. First one egg is deposited in a partially built nest and then a couple days later, a second egg is deposited in the completed nest.

Much of my yard is like a jungle, so I can see having some hummingbird nests; it's just a matter of finding them -- could be more difficult than finding bigfoot

Finally got a pic of a male House Finch today...assuming I've correctly ID'ed this bird

 

[Leeski]

 

[Henderson]

The other week I found a wasp I never heard of before. I found a 1/2" row of dirt between concrete that had been dug out one day. I was thinking maybe I got a little garter snake, went to get my camera to watch it, and then saw this wasp, Cicada Killer Wasp. It was dragging the paralyzed cicada into the hole. They tunnel chambers underground, lay eggs under the cicadas, so the larva has something to eat. I actually like cicadas singing here all summer, and they're harmless, so the wasps had to go.

 

[Treblot84]

Found this on my garden shovel just now and thought i would share it with everyone. Kind of creepy but also pretty interesting.

Here is another less creepy photo.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Found this on my garden shovel just now and thought i would share it with everyone. Kind of creepy but also pretty interesting.View attachment 42652Here is another less creepy photo.View attachment 42653

That Mr Creepy looks like a Cicada

 

[Henderson]

It actually looks like a spider is trying to hang out inside Mr. Creepy's cicada shell he left on the pole.

 

[Sheal]

House Martins

 

[DirtMechanic]

It actually looks like a spider is trying to hang out inside Mr. Creepy's cicada shell he left on the pole.

Free is Free!

 

[Treblot84]

@Henderson Yes that is exactly what I thought too! The spider was huge once we made it move, with yellow stripes on its legs.

 

[Sheal]

I cleared out the Blue Tit nest box today as the family have been long gone. The remaining egg was about the size of the fingernail on my little finger.

 

[Sheal]

Song Thrush.