The Flickr Morainehillsstatepark Image Generatr

I was following this bike rider for a panning shot when the bike trail went past some tall bushes that were between him and me. May is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists, so it seemed like a good time to post the image. Processed for Sliders Sunday

HSS and Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there too!

It's fungus seen on the side of a wooden post. It's may be icky, yes, but it's kinda interesting to examine on the zoomed-in view, IMO.

Or, thanks to a comment from Deborah Leu, I'm thinking now that this may be a lichen.

When I couldn't find much of anything else to photograph on a recent day, I decided to practice some panning shots. I think this one came out pretty well.

It was a heavily overcast day when I spotted this pair of Bald Eagles perched atop a distant tree at a local state park. And though I was able to pull them in reasonably well with a long lens and a 2.0 teleconverter, I was unable to get a full view of the head on the second bird before the pair took flight and disappeared, unfortunately.

Our Daily Challenge: "Animal(s)"

A Black-capped Chickadee engages the photographer in a staredown...

Well, not really. It was just happenstance that he looked my way at the moment that I pressed the shutter.

HWW

This pair of male Northern Cardinals were flitting about and periodically partaking of the seed that had fallen to the ground beneath a nearby bird feeder.

Wing Wednesday & Our Daily Challenge: "Two Of A Kind"

HWW

I didn't complete the title because I'm not sure what this bird is.

My phone says it's a Black Phoebe, and its markings, with the white on the lower part of the torso seem to match that. But the range of the Black Phoebe comes nowhere close to Northern Illinois, where this shot was taken. So maybe it's an Eastern Phoebe, even though its markings don't match.

In any case, I like the shot, so here it is for Wing Wednesday. Any ID help or opinion would be welcome.

HWW

Running down the side of a post is not unusual for a White-breasted Nuthatch such as this one; heck, you'll often see these quick and agile little birds hanging upside down on a branch or a feeder. With a range extending from southern Canada to northern Florida and southern Mexico, these birds are common throughout much of North America.

Looking Close On Friday: "Winter Leaves" theme

HLCoF

This young female Northern Cardinal had just landed on the branch. But when she spotted me, she quickly flew away.

...to make out with the naked eye.

I could see that there was something in the center of the web, but I was only able to see the detail on this spider when viewed through my macro lens at 2X magnification. I did a small amount of research and I think that it may be a Long-Jawed Orbweaver.

Eastern Calligrapher insects such as these are also known as hoverflies because they are frequently found hovering around flowers from which they feed on nectar and pollen. Adults are typically 0.24 to 0.3-inch long. These two are both females, I believe, based on the backside pattern.

HWW

It's an Aster, I think, and though the petals on this one are a bit irregular, it's still a beauty, and a treat to see as the warmer months in the Northern Hemisphere draw to a close.

HBW

It's a Western Honey Bee, I believe. And this little creature was definitely doing its job; it was one of many bees that were moving rapidly from blossom to blossom in a patch of wild asters.

Happy Wing Wednesday

It's a seven-image composite showing the path of a honey bee as it took flight from a flowering branch, moving from lower left to upper right.

HTM & HMBT

Already far above the treetops, the Barn Swallow was about to exit the top of the frame when this photo was snapped.

Smile On Saturday: "Going Up" theme

HSoS

It's a Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (aka Pennsylvania Leatherwing) in flight. Common throughout the American Midwest from July to September, they feed primarily on pollen and nectar of flowers but may also eat small insects such as caterpillars and aphids.

HWW

Our Daily Challenge: "Yellow (Polka Dot)

Macro Mondays: "One Color" theme

HMM

Moraine Hills State Park
McHenry Dam
McHenry, Illinois 42.308755, -88.249802
March 11, 2024

For the Bait Sign Project

COPYRIGHT 2024 by JimFrazier All Rights Reserved. This may NOT be used for ANY reason without written consent from Jim Frazier.

240311cz7-2294-2500

One of my favorite things about driving the rural byways in the summertime is seeing the many orange daylilies such as these along the roadsides.

Our Daily Challenge: "Orange Is The New Black"