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Arkansas Ozarks Wildlife and Insects
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“All that glitters is not gold; <br /> Often have you heard that told..."<br /> <br /> -- William Shakespeare, 'The Merchant of Venice'<br /> <br /> In early July, after a couple of weeks with no significant rainfall, some areas of the forest floor look like a scene from Harry Potter -- the ground is almost completely covered with spider webs from native funnel web and filmy dome spiders.<br /> <br /> Spider silk with sunset lighting produces the full set of rainbow colors. Yet another example of "right place, right moment, grab the camera *now!*".
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“All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told..."

-- William Shakespeare, 'The Merchant of Venice'

In early July, after a couple of weeks with no significant rainfall, some areas of the forest floor look like a scene from Harry Potter -- the ground is almost completely covered with spider webs from native funnel web and filmy dome spiders.

Spider silk with sunset lighting produces the full set of rainbow colors. Yet another example of "right place, right moment, grab the camera *now!*".

spider silk refractionfunnel webfilmy dome webdiffractionrainbowspider web

  • Off-roading?<br /> <br /> The Greater Roadrunner, an Arkansas native, isn't *always* found on the road. This one grew tired of being stalked along open ground and took off for higher elevations -- in this case, a well-aged fence post surrounded by underbrush.<br /> <br /> More info available here, courtesy of Audobon Arkansas: <a href="http://www.birdsofarkansas.org/bird_detail.asp?birdID=29">http://www.birdsofarkansas.org/bird_detail.asp?birdID=29</a><br /> <br /> DSC_0199
  • Luna Moth - Late Summer, near Oark AR<br /> <br /> This specimen turned up late in the season, and was starting to look a little bit shopworn -- but thanks to a lucky break on backlighting a summers worth of mileage was washed away.<br /> <br /> Technical details: Original image shot on Fuji Velvia ISO 50, Hasselblad 501cm w/80mm Zeiss Planar 1:2.8 lens. Digital conversion via 4000 dpi scan.
  • “When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.”<br /> <br /> <br /> ― Ernest Hemingway, "A Moveable Feast"<br /> <br /> DSC_0909
  • Three moods of the Cattle Egret in early spring: Grumpy, Eeek!, and Hungry.<br /> <br /> A lone Cattle Egret, by all appearances not terribly amused at the notion of unusually late springtime sleet and snow. This specimen exhibits the yellow / orange highlights of breeding plumage - so it's possible that the apparent surly attitude is a case of "all dressed up, and no place to go."<br /> <br /> Or maybe it's about as thrilled at the idea of one last outburst of winter on the first weekend of May as the rest of us...<br /> <br /> More info available from Audobon Arkansas here: <a href="http://www.birdsofarkansas.org/bird_detail.asp?birdID=14">http://www.birdsofarkansas.org/bird_detail.asp?birdID=14</a>
  • Whitetail Fawn - Early June, no more than a few weeks old, this youngster was in a great hiding place until I blundered in and disrupted his nap.
  • Wild Turkeys - Late Winter, 2013<br /> <br /> Out in the woods or on days with heavy overcast, they're just large dark-colored birds. Spotlight them with end-of-day sunset lighting, and the range of color in the iridescent feathers is amazing!<br /> <br /> DSC_0128
  • Bluebird chicks - Summer Solstice, 2013<br /> <br /> This old gatepost serves double-duty -- it's served as home for several generations of bluebirds. These chicks are not many days away from being ready to leave the nest.<br /> <br /> More information here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Bluebird">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Bluebird</a><br /> <br /> DSC_0554
  • Willow Flycatcher - late Spring, 2013<br /> <br /> Spotted near one of the stock ponds -- just like the guide book says, "fond of wet, brushy areas."<br /> <br /> More info here: <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Willow_Flycatcher/id">http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Willow_Flycatcher/id</a>
  • Amberwing Dragonfly
  • Early summer wildflowers, stray thistle, and a butterfly -- all of the attractive parts of a day, with none of the 90-degree heat and humidity.<br /> <br /> DSC_0115
  • High Wire Act?<br /> <br /> A Walking Stick insect (Phasmatodea) in an unexpected setting - meandering along the top wire of a fence.<br /> <br /> Walking Sticks tend to be night-time feeders, and rely on their incredible natural camouflage to avoid predators during daytime hours. The camouflage isn't very effective in this case -- but I still went by this specimen twice before the "what's wrong with this picture?" reaction kicked in.<br /> <br /> This one is in hiding posture -- the front legs are extended straight out from the body. The middle and rear legs are hooked to the wire. On closer inspection, you can see a red/orange eye at the upper left end, just in front of the forelegs.
  • "As quick as a..."
  • Bobcat - February, 2007<br /> <br /> 30 pounds of "No, I don't want to snuggle".<br /> <br /> More on this Ozarks native wildcat here: <a href="http://www.agfc.com/species/pages/SpeciesWildlifeDetails2.aspx?Title=Bobcat">http://www.agfc.com/species/pages/SpeciesWildlifeDetails2.aspx?Title=Bobcat</a>
  • Great Spangled Fritillary - August, 2013
  • They only look like they move slow...<br /> <br /> Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) caught in the midst of landing on a Mimosa blossom.<br /> <br /> DSC_0232
  • Pipevine Swallowtail - August, 2013
  • Goldenrod & Thread Waisted Wasp
  • “All that glitters is not gold; <br /> Often have you heard that told..."<br /> <br /> -- William Shakespeare, 'The Merchant of Venice'<br /> <br /> In early July, after a couple of weeks with no significant rainfall, some areas of the forest floor look like a scene from Harry Potter -- the ground is almost completely covered with spider webs from native funnel web and filmy dome spiders.<br /> <br /> Spider silk with sunset lighting produces the full set of rainbow colors. Yet another example of "right place, right moment, grab the camera *now!*".
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