Bugs!

Attracted to the sap dripping from holes caused by a sapsucker on the maple tree.

Click on one to get up close and personal.

This fly's head is pretty cool when enlarged.

A shy honey bee. Hard to get a shot of them on these snow drops. They burrow right up into them.

another species.

A close look at a small dung fly. 

Hives doing well!

Looks like all 8 made it through a very mild although very wet winter. So far. All are very busy today and bringing in pollen.  Here's two of them:

.I decided to get a close-up of the newts mating in the second pond (yes, it's an early spring) and while they stayed too far away, Of course these guys were right below the house and I didn't have a long lens with me.

Spring is here?

1/25/16 and it's spring? We have a day with sunshine and 55* I even saw the newts in a ball mating in one of the ponds. Too far for a photo though.
First test of the 200mm macro lens on something alive outside.
All the bees are flying. Click to enlarge as usual.

Tiny sweat bee?

Hover fly

Find the varroa mites

Where's Waldo?
Click for a larger view


There are at least three or four.

My Grandfather WW1 (and a tired bee)

LAMBERT ANTONIUS FRIEDERICH 1899 - 1965

Riding an Indian MC during the first world war.

In the Thanksgiving spirit, I thank him for the bridge over Muddy Creek. 

The old one was built of logs long ago and finely gave out from the weight of a cement truck, dropping said truck in the drink. Grandpa (on my mother's side) engineered a more modern bridge for my father using steel I beams and concrete.

Getting the last nectar from the last of the asters

Some elk , a blacktail, and of course one of my girls.

Took this one from the jeep in the center field. These five  were really curious and kept getting closer until one of the herd called and they all ran back. Click on one for a better look.

White tail

What's going on in the woods above the field in the first photo.

Gotta include one of my girls. The asters are about gone now.

Female black crab spider

Coriarachne brunneipes.

These shots need to be clicked on!

If anyone is interested: I placed a bowl upside down on a lazy susan,  added a little water, and a chunk of wood. This kept her contained, and I spun it around and shot photos as she moved around trying to find a way off.