Duet

 Carolina wrens singing in harmony at Eastern College Pond.

Yet Another Bluebird - They are the only ones who will pose!!

 

Country Road in the Fog wins Second Place in Betterphoto.com!!!!

We were sitting in the front seat of a bus traveling somewhere near Burgundy, France.  It was a foggy morning with a beautiful tree lined country road ahead of us.   I took the picture through the front window and it worked!!

 

Friendly Red Tail Hawk

I was walking down Gulf Road in Valley Forge yesterday, when I saw a hawk flutter down into the weeds to catch a little bird.  A few seconds later he flew up with his catch onto a nearby limb and devoured his prey.  I took a million photographs and followed him around as he flew from one tree to the next trying to get rid of me.  He finally settled down and I got very close.  Then he fluttered down again right in front of me in the weeds looking for more prey.  I got down on my knee and took this close up.  So much fun.....

The Woods off of Ship Road

 I didn't get out today until about noon, but still it was so darn good.  I walked the trail in the woods off of Ship Road to the end.  First I found the damselfly, then the wood frog, then the wrens discussing life, then the cardinal grabbing a berry, and finally a whole slew of cedar waxwing.  Oh the thrill of it all.

Fall Birds in Valley Forge - Oooh La La

Bluebird

Palm Warbler

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Yellow Rumped Warbler

 

Downy Woodpeckers

Bluebird

Northern Cardinal

Stranded in Lyon

O.K. folks, it's been way too long since I posted something in this interminable blog.  I am writing from  our little hotel room in Lyon, France.  Tom and I were on a long awaited honeymoon first to Paris and then on a Tauck riverboat cruise from Lyon to Cannes.  We were having the time of our lives visiting museums in Paris, meeting Tom's sister and brother-in-law who came from Switzerland to spend the weekend with us.  And then onto the cruise with the best food, the best people, the best tour guides, etc.  Then about three days ago Tom got a bad cold and was a bit achy.  The next morning we both took a covid test.  I was negative, but he was positive.  I went up to the Tauck director's desk and told the good lady director our problem.  She quickly put on a game face, said for us to pack our bags.   She called a taxi and we were off the boat before noon.  Boom!!  Oh well, we took a chance, but that covid still has its tentacles out there.  Tom is now just about fine.  Luckily we each had three boosters.  We are wearing our N95 masks, watching lots of "Emily in Paris" on Netflix on my computer and eating way too many cold cuts in our room.  If all goes well, we will be home by Thursday evening and will celebrate Tom's 76th birthday on Friday, October 14.  For fun, here is a picture of us at the Musee de L'Orangerie in Paris before the adventure really began.

Ichneumon Wasp (Female)

According to my "Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America," this beautiful wasp, found today on a tree at Eastern College Pond locates other wasp's larvae deep in the tree trunk, using her antennae to detect the scent of a fungus associated with the larvae.   Then she penetrates the trunk with that three inch ovipositor at the bottom of her abdomen.  She secretes a chemical that breaks down the wood, and then lays her eggs on the larvae. The new larvae then feed on and kill the original larvae.  All of this was happening today at Eastern College Pond.

Dawn in Gloucester

Jon and Piper Praising the Morning Light (Actually Jon was trying to get Piper  to put the sun on her finger for the photo.)

Dawn and the Fishing Boat

The Surfer

Good Harbor Beach

 

We are in Gloucester!!

Piper and Jack

Nicest Boy on Earth

Jon and Jack

Seagull asking for some Goldfish

Tom and Kitty do Tie Die and then attend outdoor Concert

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue

Little Blue

Seagull in the Surf

 

Little Swallows

Morning on Bass Rocks

Little White Moth Laying Her Eggs Today in Charlestown Meadows

She was under a leaf and I could not coax her out.  After I looked at the photographs I realized she was laying her eggs!  (Click on the photograph to really see those eggs.)

 

Wary Momma and the Three Fawns

I was walking in the woods in Valley Forge today when two momma deer and three fawn ran right towards me.  They didn't realize I was there until they practically knocked me over.  I stood still for at least 15 minutes and they sort of got used to me.  So much fun!

 

The Ambush Bug

 I was walking in the field off of Ship Road and saw a butterfly on a thistle blossom.  I started taking his photograph and realized he was not flying away.  I got closer and realized he had been ambushed by the Ambush Bug.  He's a tiny bug with giant forearms and pinchers that can capture prey many times its size.  Here he is side view, front view and during the ambush. Click to enlarge and really see that bug!!

Today in Valley Forge

Oh it is that time of year in Valley Forge.  The turtles are lurking in the woods.  The Indigo and the Goldfinch are everywhere, the hummingbirds and the honeybees are buzzing the wildflowers.  It is so marvelous to just walk in the fields and see all these beautiful creatures.  I am so, so, so happy.

 

Yumiko Graduated!!! She is a Certified Physician Assistant!!!

 She did it!  She worked so hard for so long from the day she entered medical school.  Yumiko has poured her heart into her studies.  And on Friday, July 29 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, that young woman walked up on stage and received her Masters Degree.  Cannot tell you how proud we all are.  Here are a  few photos from the graduation: