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Monthly Archives: September 2013
A Fly in the Asters
This bee mimic fly was getting nectar from the asters this morning. It seems to be in the genus Helophilus.
California Ground Squirrels (and How to Kill Them)
I check out the bing.com search engine often–not to use the search engine, but to check out the photography. They have a new spectacular image each day, and the subjects often involve nature. Yesterday they had a photo of two … Continue reading
Riding the Thermals
We have a windy day here, which gave the turkey vultures a chance to ride the thermals. Look alive.
Last of the Viceroys
As the season progresses, some butterflies just fade away. I saw this viceroy Sunday. Viceroys may occasionally be found here in October or later, but not often.
Elbow and Belly Photography
The presence of small aster plants on a mowed lawn created an opportunity for one of my favorite types of photography. I use a set of extension tubes and a macro lens extended to the maximum extent. If I was … Continue reading
Posted in diptera, insects
Tagged Extension tube, Macrophotography, photography, syrphid flies, toxomerus geminatus
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A Small Butterfly
Butterflies are few and far between now, unlike the conditions usually encountered in September in Iowa. I did see this eastern tailed-blue yesterday, though.
Posted in butterflies, eastern tailed-blue
Tagged autumn, butterflies, eastern tailed-blue
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The Last Sipper
I am not sure when we will have the last butterfly sipping nectar from a flower for the year–hopefully we have a few more weeks of butterflies. But their numbers are pretty low. This is an orange sulfur. The seed … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies
Tagged fall colors, foxglove beardtongue, macro photography, orange sulfur, prairie
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Not So Many Butterflies
Most years find September a great time for butterflies. During a normal year, I would find dozens or hundreds of butterflies competing for the nectar resources of asters in my prairie. Tonight I only found three. Two orange sulfurs and … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies
Tagged Aster (genus), butterfly, low numbers of butterflies, orange sulfur, Outdoors, painted lady
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Thunderstorm
After a long dry summer we finally got some autumn rains a couple of days ago. But today we had a thunderstorm. I had forgotten how magical thunderstorms are. Thunder rumbles the ground. Electricity lights up the sky. Hot humid … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged magic, photography, Thunderstorm, Thunderstorms and Lightning, Weather Phenomena
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The White-Lined Sphinx
A number of people in and around Iowa have noted large numbers of white-lined sphinx moths flying around. I haven’t been lucky enough to see a lot of them, but I have seen a few. Hyles lineata is very charming–it … Continue reading