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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
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Subject Topic: Look what I just saw in my yard! Post ReplyPost New Topic
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Dawn
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Posted: May 08 2006 at 5:13am | IP Logged Quote Dawn

I just posted some more random nature notes and photos on my blog ~ things we've seen recently in and around our yard ... there's an unidentified butterfly, some weird bugs, overgrown spruce buds, baby dragonflies and a white wildflower we can't identify ... I'd love any thoughts!

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 9:44am | IP Logged Quote cathhomeschool

Yesterday we found a Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle crawling around in the dirt in our yard. I guess its mandibles give this brightly colored guy the security it needs to boldly wander about our bird-filled backyard without fear of pursuit. (Of course, he didn’t count on being caught by me! We released him – carefully – after photographing and him.)



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MacBeth
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Posted: May 09 2006 at 9:48am | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

Gorgeous, Janette! I wouldn't want to be his prey... !

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lapazfarm
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Posted: May 09 2006 at 1:45pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

WoW! Now that is impressive!

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Dawn
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Posted: May 12 2006 at 5:12am | IP Logged Quote Dawn

We've been observing a tiny butterfly in our yard over the past couple of weeks and last night we discovered its name ~ Eastern Pine Elfin! (I just love that name! ) It's tiny, but very beautiful. It let's you get close so long as you don't cast your shadow on it. Ds informed me the cool shade prompts the flight.

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~Rachel~
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Posted: May 12 2006 at 8:42am | IP Logged Quote ~Rachel~

Oh Dawn, that sounds like one of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies!!

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Posted: May 12 2006 at 9:32am | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

Hooray! We have those, too and now you've done the work of identifying it for me!Thanks!

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Posted: May 12 2006 at 9:47am | IP Logged Quote Donna

Aaron and I just spotted this bird at our feeder. He's beautiful.

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Dawn
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Posted: May 12 2006 at 11:26am | IP Logged Quote Dawn

Donna wrote:
Aaron and I just spotted this bird at our feeder. He's beautiful.


Donna, he is beautiful! We had a similar bird last month. I think it might be the same bird as yours, but it goes by a slightly different name ...?

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MacBeth
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Posted: May 12 2006 at 1:02pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

Donna wrote:
Aaron and I just spotted this bird at our feeder. He's beautiful.


We had our first towhee this year. I also had our first grackle ever, and there's even a pair of persistent cowbirds. I think the cracked corn in the feeder mix is attracting them.

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~Rachel~
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Posted: May 12 2006 at 1:15pm | IP Logged Quote ~Rachel~

I managed to catch this image on camera:



I thought it was a good look at those pollen 'sacks' on the legs

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Posted: May 12 2006 at 1:26pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

Dawn wrote:
   
Donna wrote:
Aaron and I just spotted this bird at our feeder. He's beautiful.


Donna, he is beautiful! We had a similar bird last month. I think it might be the same bird as yours, but it goes by a slightly different name ...?

From what I can gather, Rufous-sided Towhee and Eastern Towhee are the same bird, with different names according to which reference you use. I grew up calling this bird Rufous-sided, and was really confused when I saw Dawn's original blog entry. So I researched it and they have the same species name listed for both. That is the trouble with common names, unfortunately. When in doubt, go with the scientific name.
Rachel, that is an amazing photo!

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~Rachel~
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Posted: May 12 2006 at 1:27pm | IP Logged Quote ~Rachel~

I haven't seen the Towhees in a while... we had a HUGE flock of grackles earlier in the spring. I think they were the ones responsible for the robin's egg we found in the grass...

Edited to Add:
Thanks for the compliments Theresa!

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Posted: May 12 2006 at 1:39pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

~Rachel~ wrote:
I managed to catch this image on camera:

I thought it was a good look at those pollen 'sacks' on the legs
It's a gorgeous photo!

I'm camera shopping right now. What camera do you use for such a detailed pic as this?

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Posted: May 12 2006 at 1:43pm | IP Logged Quote ~Rachel~

Olympus Stylus 600.
It has the 'macro' feature on it, so you can get closeups. Its a 6.0 megapixel too...
Dh got it for me for Christmas
So long as your camera has the same number of MP or more and the macro feature, you should do well...
we went trying all the ones at Circuit City before Dh decided on one for me

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Dawn
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Posted: May 12 2006 at 6:56pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn

~Rachel~ wrote:
I managed to catch this image on camera: I thought it was a good look at those pollen 'sacks' on the legs


Oh my, Rachel! Beautiful photo!

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Posted: May 12 2006 at 7:13pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn

We found what we think are Morel mushrooms today growing alongside our house ...

We're hoping to make spore prints like Rebecca's and Leonie's ... they're "under glass" as we speak, so we'll see how they turn out in the morning!

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Posted: May 13 2006 at 7:29am | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

Dawn, I can't wait to see the prints from those!

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Posted: May 13 2006 at 8:10am | IP Logged Quote Helen

[QUOTE=JennGM] I'm camera shopping right now. /QUOTE]
Interesting article from Business Week

The new, stronger cameras need something to prevent blurriness. I found out (the hard way) that a cheap, high megapixel camera is just that... cheap.


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Posted: May 14 2006 at 5:01am | IP Logged Quote Dawn

lapazfarm wrote:
Dawn, I can't wait to see the prints from those!


Well, kind of disappointing I'm afraid. I just posted the rather lackluster results. This has just not been my weekend!

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