Monthly Archives: September 2013

A Fly in the Asters

Posted on September 29, 2013 by the roused bear

This bee mimic fly was getting nectar from the asters this morning.  It seems to be in the genus Helophilus.

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California Ground Squirrels (and How to Kill Them)

Posted on September 28, 2013 by the roused bear

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 →

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Riding the Thermals

Posted on September 26, 2013 by the roused bear

We have a windy day here, which gave the turkey vultures a chance to ride the thermals. Look alive.

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Last of the Viceroys

Posted on September 25, 2013 by the roused bear

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.  

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Elbow and Belly Photography

Posted on September 23, 2013 by the roused bear

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 →

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A Small Butterfly

Posted on September 22, 2013 by the roused bear

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.  

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The Last Sipper

Posted on September 21, 2013 by the roused bear

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 →

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Not So Many Butterflies

Posted on September 20, 2013 by the roused bear

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 →

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Thunderstorm

Posted on September 19, 2013 by the roused bear

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 →

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The White-Lined Sphinx

Posted on September 16, 2013 by the roused bear

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 →

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