Little Miss Cardinal

 

Hellllooooooo!!

Mrs. Towhee Yawning in Valley Forge

 

Hiding Red Bellied Woodpecker - Charlestown Meadows

 Click to see that eye!

Mom and Babe in the Woods

 

Look at those noses........

Assassin Bug

Jessica, my daughter-in-law sent me a picture of an assassin bug today.  It was on her porch.  She had seen the baby assassins in the same place and one had grown up.   This afternoon I found three of them in Valley Forge.  Must be their time to shine.  Can you see that long bent proboscis??

 

It's a Jungle Out There

The praying mantis got the milkweed beetle.  Held on to him for a few seconds, then realized he didn't like him and let him go....  Hopefully a happy ending.
 

Sleeping Bumble Bee in the Morning Dew - Valley Forge (Click to see that little face!)

 Click to see that morning dew!!

My First Prairie Warbler!!! Oh Valley Forge

 

Hawk in the Woods Today!!

 Well it was one of those days.  Cooled off a bit and the mosquitos were gone, but nothing much happening for a few hours.  I was walking back along the interline drive when I heard a red bellied woodpecker.   Immediately this beautiful young red tailed hawk flew right up in front of me with a little vole in his talons.  He stayed around for a good half hour.  Started screeching to probably get me to stop talking to him.  Here he is:

From Beginning to End

I came across a large probably female praying mantis in the bog in Charlestown Meadows just as she was finishing a little skipper butterfly.  In front of her was a little wildflower with an inchworm exploring the flower.  The mantis finished her butterfly, hunched over the flower, grabbed the inchworm in a flash, ate it up in a flash and then cleaned her extraordinarily sharp fingernails.

Little Jumper on the Ragweed

This little guy was so curious.  He left his little green leafy space and climbed up to the top of the ragweed and just sat down and wondered what the heck was going on. He let me take a million photographs.

Tippy Toes

 Look at those orange toes!!  Mrs. Mallard at Eastern College Pond.

Home Again Rose (About a Thousand Kisses Shy)

Crouching Brown Thrasher

                                                                                       

We got home from Gloucester last night around five. I was back in Valley Forge today by noon and the birdies were still there crouching on the branches.  It was a marvelous three weeks, but also so good to be back home.

Jon's Last Day

Well it's Thursday and almost time to start to pack up and head on home.  Jon and the kids left this morning, but before they left we took a picture of the crew.   See Annie on Tom's lap?

 

The Whale's Tail

One of six humpback whales we saw today in The Atlantic Ocean off of Gloucester, Massachusetts.  This guy came right up to our boat and gave us a good look.  So amazing!!!