In the Woods and Around the Pond

Fledgling Chickadee!
Consolation prize for not
getting bobwhite photos. 

In the world of birding accomplishments, I will never rank. Still, this summer, I have felt quite Audobonesque because of all the Northern Bobwhites who have been visiting the yard. Like you (probably) I've been hearing them for years, but this summer, I've finally seen them. I've been excited enough that I've waxed poetic about this, The Year of Tall Grasses. That's where they came from: the mate pair pecking around in the yard just feet away from the safety of the field on the other side of the fence, or even, it seems, nesting on the hill we decided not to bother mowing this summer. I've tried to get a ghetto telephoto of them, but they are always too busy to stand still long enough to allow me to focus.

Bridge Over the River... Whatever

Along with the Bobwhites, about which you'll have to take my word because I didn't get a picture, I also saw the ever elusive Wood Thrush that trill so beautifully in boreal forests. The pair I frightened on the stream bank at the Hueston Woods campground were a lovely cinnamon color on their backs with creamy breasts speckled with black. After their initial flight, the female (presumably) stayed on the rocky shoal to peck around. When I read up on thrushes, I found that they need extra calcium for their eggs than other birds, so I expect she was eating shell bits.

Moneywort

Having gone to school in Oxford, within decent sling shot range of Hueston Woods, you'd think I would've known what I was in for taking a weekend there. Alas, no, I didn't make use of the amazing state park when I was living right on the border of it. I had no idea of the size of its lake or the wonderfulness of its wooded trails, the perfection of its sandy bottomed streams or the incredible yuckiness of its latrines. The latter doesn't really signify. What latrine isn't totally disgusting?

The danger of hiking with me is that I make people climb
random piles of logs for photo ops.

Just hikin'. What are you doin'?

This guy knew how to build a dang sand castle!

Kids making additions.

Farewell to thee, oh campsite critters.

I may decide to live on that shoal...

Here is the part where I probably get myself into some sort of legal trouble. We spent a weekend at Hueston woods, and I didn't want to drive to the bath houses over in the A neighborhood. Still, I didn't want to be sticky and smelly all weekend either. So, naturally, I walked up the creek behind our campsite far enough not to flash anyone, and took a bath in the creek. With soap. And Shampoo. Ecologically proper, probably not, but I'm pretty sure I didn't kill anything with my tiny bit of soap, and I probably fed a few mosquitoes, so I'm not ashamed. Also, bathing in water cold enough to make you gasp involuntarily is a sure fire way to get wide awake fast of a morning. Silly and weird as it may be, I believe walking and bathing in the little creek behind our campsite was my favorite part of the weekend. There was a positively huge tadpole, for one thing. I also didn't get a picture of him, but his head was the size of a twenty five cent gumball. I am curious what manner of frog he's going to be when his tail drops off.

Especially when these are the
tadpoles I'm used to...

Tiniest frog ever! Squeeeeeeee!

Pretty sure this is a male.

Being broke living in the middle of nowhere is the mother of innovation. As such, this summer has afforded good opportunity for local adventure. So far, the elementals have been content to keep temperatures mild and rains clustered. Only recently has the normal Kentucky-in-June heat wave swamped us. While an arid summer makes watering a protracted affair in the practice of scatter-gardening, it has also made possible many mild evenings of fishing and insect observation, a weekend of camping and stream bathing, and subsequent frequent trips to swim in the river and photograph damselflies. As far as the observation of interesting bugs goes, our corner of the county is the place to be. This summer has been especially fun. We must've had a pair of Actais Luna caterpillars munching our sand cherry tree because two Luna moths hung out to dry on our living room window within days of each other. If I were ever going to spend a ridiculous fortune on a tattoo, these wings are what I'd have done across and down my back. Don't worry, dad. That's a big if. Maybe I'll just get his eyebrows tattooed on my forehead, eh?

Soulful black eyes, and big, hairy eyebrows.

While Luna moths are too groggy in the daytime to resist my photographic forays, dragonflies have no excuse. Some dragonflies are just vain. Seriously, it's like they pose for the camera. Geeks who study such things label some dragonflies as fliers and others as perchers. Obviously, the perchers are unfazed by me and my camera, but the fliers make me want to jump in a lake. This summer is the first time I've been able to sneak up on the illusive, red Calico Pennant dragonfly. He must be a "flier." 

Aaaaand, a little closer. Look at that RED!

Other news from around the pond is that Mr. Bill came to visit, causing great excitement. Besides bringing on a round of fishing, he also brought a dog with him. Yes, that is what constitutes great excitement around here. His visit afforded opportunities for the man o' the house to smoke his pipe, the boys o' the house to pull Bill's finger, and the woman o' the house to have all her pots precleaned by Wilbur the dog. Wilbur can come to stay any time he likes. Abraham also began referring to Bill (who is roughly the bloggist's age) as "Grandpa," to the great delight of everyone except, possibly, Bill. Good times. Come back whenever you like, Grandpa!

Female Calico Pennant (?)

Great Blue Skimmer, male, is a total poser.

Great Blue Skimmer, just emerged from nymph

Great Blue Skimmer, female, best guess.

Clubtail

I am a Six Spotted Tiger Beetle. I eat bugs you don't want around.
I am NOT an Emerald Ash Borer. Do NOT smash me. 

I am a Caterpillar Hunter beetle. Besides having awesome iridescent

rainbow exoskeleton, I eat nasty caterpillars. Put me in your garden!

Bugs are clearly easier to photograph than birds.

Summer is, indeed, a great time to live in the middle of nowhere.  Don't tell anyone, but I actually do a lot of science teaching during the summer. The kids don't even know it, but they are learning more biology now than most kids will get in a lifetime, all because of the words, "Mo-om, I'm bored!" Charlie may be on to me, but he doesn't seem to mind.