Two birds flew into the avocado tree at the same time. One was a hooded oriole. The other was a bronzed cowbird. It’s not unusual for one bird to be chasing another around like that. If there are two birds of the same species, the chasing usually leads to breeding. If they’re different species, then one is usually chasing the other out of its territory. I watched. To my surprise, the cowbird stood still and the oriole jumped on its back and humped it. I just watched inter-species copulation! How am I going to unsee that?
Killdeer
… in flight
I see Soft shelled turtles in the water
…from a distance. They’re quick to dive if disturbed. I’ve never seen one away from the water; before today.
No easy escape, so this one just held perfectly still as I walked by.
I suspect I interrupted an egg-laying mission in the soft dirt.
I left her to go about her business as I went about mine.
No easy escape, so this one just held perfectly still as I walked by. I suspect I interrupted an egg-laying mission in the soft dirt. I left her to go about her business as I went about mine. Spanish Dagger
Blooming, back in March.
Fruiting, in June.
They *are* edible, but I haven’t tried them.
Fruiting, in June. They *are* edible, but I haven’t tried them. Just because it’s such a cool name
Black Witch Moth.
This one even happens to be a female. They have a 7 inch wingspan. I found this one at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. According to Wikipedia, the black widow moth is seen as an omen of death and misfortune in superstitions across the Caribbean, Central and South America. In Mexico, it’s believed that one of the moths flying into the house of someone who is sick means that their death is close. For me, it’s just something to see along the way.
This one even happens to be a female. They have a 7 inch wingspan. I found this one at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. According to Wikipedia, the black widow moth is seen as an omen of death and misfortune in superstitions across the Caribbean, Central and South America. In Mexico, it’s believed that one of the moths flying into the house of someone who is sick means that their death is close. For me, it’s just something to see along the way.