goldfinch

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click to enlarge

This male goldfinch was a character over labor day weekend. He was not only bold in color but in attitude as well. When we drove up to the driveway we saw him eating from the feeder. He flew to the barbed wire fence and waited patiently for us to go inside. When he came back to the feeder I had grabbed my camera. He was caught with a sunflower seed in his beak.

Afterwards my husband and daughter went outside to throw their new Nerf football. The goldfinch returned. He tried to eat more seeds when the football came hurling about a foot away from the feeder. Needless to say he wasn't happy with them. He squawked at them and flew around their heads letting them know he wasn't happy he couldn't eat his dinner in peace.

Fox Squirrel

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One of my readers kindly pointed out the squirrel above is actually a fox squirrel. Thanks Faith, Fabric & Photos for the heads up. I've always known them to be red squirrels. When I looked at the differences they were significant. Thanks again Mary~

Swallowtail

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nectaring on Queen Anne's Lace

I'm not certain if this is a pipevine or black swallowtail. From reading the description in my butterfly field guide I'm led to believe it's the pipevine. When I look online at images it's matching the black. Can anyone tell me which butterfly this is? Isn't it gorgeous. I'm surprised the photo turned out as well as it did because the wind was blowing hard yesterday. 

I also stole shots of a squirrel across the road from our house. He was having fun scurrying across those branches like a gymnast on a balance beam. Such precision. I guess they have to perfect their balance because one misstep could lead to a crash. I'll share him with you tomorrow.

unraveled shoestring

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babe milk snake glided
'longside our house yesterday
unraveled shoestring

cobblestoned graveyard

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katydid sleeps 'mong
death's erected monuments
cobblestoned graveyard

Walking Stick

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Earlier this evening we went to meet my husband at his work. While we were waiting for him I spotted this walking stick. I'd never seen one to my knowledge before today so I was pretty psyched about seeing him. On the other hand I've seen quite a few praying mantises.

When we went to the zoo earlier this summer I actually held an Australian walking stick. Now that was cool. Sadly, I have no proof of this feat. Looking back I wish I could have had my husband or daughter take a picture as I'm not one to pick insects up of any kind.