A Potpourri of Critters...

A Bee posed for me while it danced atop a Black-eyed Susan. A Black Snake showed himself and allowed a few photos. An Eastern Bluebird feeding a youngster. A couple moths and butterflies. A Cabbage Moth, Spotted Skipper, a Spice-bush Swallowtail an Eastern Swallowtail and a Praying Mantis. All followed by a Song Sparrow.

A Bee atop a black-eyed susan...

A Black Snake...

An Eastern Bluebird...

An Eastern Bluebird feeding her young...

A Cabbage Moth...

An Eastern Swallowtail...

Praying Mantis...

Spice-bush Swallowtail... 

A Spotted Skipper...

A Song Sparrow...

Another Visit to Lilypons Water Gardens...

The Lilypons Water Gardens nearly always provides subjects of different genres throughout the year. Today was no different than many. My first encounter of the morning was totally unexpected. A Crayfish out of its element. This was the first time I have seen one out of the water. He was traveling through the grass just outside of one of the ponds. A very dangerous thing for it to be doing because of the variety of creatures that would love to eat him. Next was a Great White Egret, the photos are the same Egret different locations. As I was photographing the egret I heard a commotion in the pond and saw a large Snapping Turtle very rapidly cruising the ponds edge. Next was a Juvenal Black-crowned Knight Heron. First landing in a tree and then dropping down to the ponds edge to hunt for its meal.

A Crayfish in its defense stance...

Crayfish traveling through the grass...

Crayfish attitude...

Great White Egret...

Snapping Turtle...

Juvenal Black-crowned Knight Heron...

Coming in for a landing... 

A Young Fox Kit...

This young Fox kit offered himself on a couple occasions and gave me some unique photo opportunities. 

Thanks for stopping by...

A Good Morning, A Baltimore Oriole, A Great White Egret, Snapping Turtles and some Mourning Doves...

The first couple photos are of an early morning at the Lilypons Water Gardens. Next a female Baltimore Oriole tending her fledglings. I did see the male but was unable to photograph him. A Great White Egret hunted in a small pond. Female Snapping Turtles will travel a long distance in order to lay their eggs. I was able to capture two. One traveling and one nesting. A pair of Mourning Doves take pause.

Canadian Geese grazing in the morning fog...

Sun fog and Geese...

Baltimore Oriole (fm)...

I caught her entering the nest... 

A Great White Egret...

Snapping turtle...

Female Snapping Turtle looking for a place to lay her eggs...

Laying her eggs...

Leaving the nest...

Her head covered with the soft sand...

Silhouetted... Two Mourning Doves...