Nature's Alarm Clock

Squirrel Monkeys

at the Waccatee Zoo

Nesting Egrets

migratory bird nesting area

Waccatee Zoo

Brown Thrasher

Leaffooted Bug

It is easy to see how this bug got its name.

Historic Homes of Southport

These homes were originally built from 1800 to 1894 in a forest of live oak trees.

To view a larger slideshow - click here.

Daytrip to Southport

The city of Southport, NC overlooks the Cape Fear River at its mouth to the Atlantic Ocean.

Live oak trees are everywhere.

A casual lunch at the Provision Co. overlooking the Southport Yacht Basin.



Tomorrow I will post a slideshow of some the historic homes in Southport.

Peace and Tranquility

A morning walk over the salt marshes.

Vereen Memorial Park. Little River, SC.

Two of a Kind

A pair of Red-banded Hairstreaks on Shasta daisies.

An Emu for You

at the Waccatee Zoo



I have read that the emu is a survivor of prehistoric times and I can believe it.

Proud as a Peacock

Waccatee Zoo

Another Daisy Visitor

Assassin bug

Cocoon

Empty cocoon of a lacewing

BugGuide.net info.

Blue Crab

Freshwater Lagoon
Huntington Beach State Park

Great Egret

Daisy Visitor

A Red-banded Hairstreak visits the first Shasta daisy bloom.

using its proboscis to probe for nectar

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egrets are small, white herons that are distinguished from the Great Egret by their smaller size, black legs and yellow feet.

Lunch time

Watching for the next meal

Dawning of a Daisy

Alligator

I really don't like alligators and the last football and basketball seasons have not helped my feelings about them.

Freshwater Lagoon

Huntington Beach State Park

Up, Up and Away

Great Blue Heron

Painted Buntings

These Painted Buntings were spotted at a feeder at Huntington Beach State Park. The male is multi-colored and the female is all green.

Least Tern

A Least Tern at the freshwater lagoon at Huntington Beach State Park.



Video clip of a Least Tern diving into the water for a fish.

Coastal Birding

This week I attended a coastal birding program at Huntington Beach State Park. Local birder, Phil Turner, did a great job educating the dozen participants from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Indiana. Some of the birds we saw included: Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork, Osprey, Painted Bunting and Least Tern.

Dragonfly

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia), young male

Gaura Lindheimeri

Commonly known as "whirling butterflies" because their blossoms of four petals resemble a butterfly.

What is It?

I sent this photo to bugguide.net for help in identification. Within an hour I had a response and found out that it was a ladybug larva. This is one of stages in the life of a ladybug. Here is a chart on the life cycle of a ladybug that I found at EnchantedLearning.com.

Anomaly

A few petals coming out the top of a purple coneflower bloom.

Yarrow

Yarrow has a long history as a powerful 'healing herb' used topically for wounds, cuts and abrasions. The genus name Achillea is derived from mythical Greek character, Achilles , who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds.

Bud and Bloom

Purple Coneflower