Return With Us Now — *
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
Yesterday we were sweeping up the place after our extravagant holiday reveling. There, among the bits of discarded shrimp, crumpled paper hats, Frank Sinatra album cover, underw— (oops, how’d that get there?) – we discovered some bits and bobs that escaped from the darkroom. We thought we would share.
The pictures, not that other stuff.
It was all the way back near the middle of November 2023. What a year! Fall had fell and we were happy as heck. Happy because we were enjoying blue skies, sunshine, warm temperatures and a three-day period with no medical appointments on the calendar.
We packed up for the big trip before bed, set the alarm for earlier than would be humane for anyone except a farmer and tossed and turned all night in excited anticipation of the delights we were certain to encounter!
At last! The clock screeched and Gini bashed it against the wall in a frustrated attempt to make it shut up. I rolled over. Our years of experience in planning safaris and expeditions paid off handsomely as we loaded the adventure vehicle. A place for everyting and everything in its … “Did you pack breakfast?“
Not wishing to be subjected to the same fate as our former alarm clock, I shouted back “Don’t be silly!“. (See how that works? Plausible deniability is the cornerstone of any successful relationship.) I dashed to the kitchen and threw granola bars and bananas in a sack.
Now we were ready!
It took eight minutes to reach our patch just as the sun peeked over the cypress trees. We saw some really neat things. We ate a banana. More neat things. We ate a granola bar. Neat things were everywhere!
We went home.
Oh, yeah. Sharing as promised.
One of our late-blooming wetland flowers is the lovely lavender Climbing Aster (Symphyotrichum carolinianum). At first glance, it appears to be a vine. However, it’s a shrub which can grow up to 20 feet or more from its base as long as it has some sort of support, such as a tree.
Arriving a bit later than some migrants, Yellow-rumped Warblers are now appearing in large numbers throughout the area. It’s pretty easy to see how they were named and why some refer to it as “Butterbutt“.
A tree by any other name could be the same. The Groundsel Tree (Baccharis halimifolia) is also known as Sea-myrtle, Consumptionweed, Eastern Baccharis, Groundsel, Groundsel Bush, Salt Marsh-elder, Salt Bush and Florida Groundsel Bush. In late fall extensive growth of this plant can make a field look like its covered in snow.
Patience denied. I waited in vain for this little Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius) to display is lovely blue upperwing. Sigh.
It is not unusual for some dragonflies and damselflies to breed throughout the year in central and southern Florida as long as the weather does not turn too cold. Encountering this pair of mating Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) was a nice surprise.
Small and very active, a Downy Woodpecker seemed to be in some sort of race as it quickly scoured tree trunks, limbs and leaves for insects. No red showing on the back of its head indicates this is a female.
The Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) is one of our favorite Odonata due to its very lovely color.
Gini says I like this butterfly because my behavior echoes its name much of the time. The Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) we found has transformed from its “wet season” yellow to the “dry season” brown coloration.
Migrating raptors are exciting to spot. This smallish and very fast immature Sharp-shinned Hawk closely resembles the somewhat larger Cooper’s Hawk.
A medium-sized butterfly, the Great Southern White (Ascia monuste) often is observed in large numbers in the fall. This one seemed to be all alone.
A young Red-shouldered Hawk was not about to let a couple of two-legged intruders interrupt its grasshopper meal.
Patience rewarded. Unlike that “other” blue, above, this very cooperative Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) readily showed off its upperwing beauty.
A new Odonata! This Carolina Spreadwing (Lestes vidua) is not only a first for us, it is the first record for this species in our county. The sighting was verified by the citizen science folks at Odonata Central. https://www.odonatacentral.org/#/
I seem to have a difficult time finding a female Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata). We came close with an immature male. In the first image below, you can see the olive/tan thorax which will soon turn as blue as the abdomen. The second picture is of an adult male.
Those long twin tails make the Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) seem larger than it really is. The iridescent blue-green body helps separate this species from others.
A new Odonata! This Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) is not only a first for us, it is the first record for this species in our county. The sighting was verified by the citizen science folks at Odonata Central. https://www.odonatacentral.org/#/ (As the baseball great, Yogi Berra, noted: “It’s deja vu all over again.”)
As we departed the area, another young Red-shouldered Hawk flew up to a fence post as if to say “Farewell Fond Friends”. (Okay, more like “don’t let the gate hit ya on the way out!”.)
Our holiday after-party cleanup was a success. Finding a few images to share from long ago was a nice bonus. Hope they weren’t too dusty for you to see.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
*– To those thrilling days of yesteryear!
Our Natural Places 
Another rewarding visit to the patch! That Climbing Aster is so exuberant, wonderful photo. Congratulations on spotting two first-observed dragons! And what is the little white nymph-like critter photobombing your Skipper image?
LikeLike
The aster certainly adds some nice color to our mostly brown season. New dragons are a surprise any time.
No idea who that little critter is. Weevily-looking snout but no clue. Good eyes!
LikeLike
That settles it. Next year, I’m asking Santa for a new camera and lenses. Unfortunately, there’s very little possibility that I’ll be good enough to find them in my stocking! What a glorious collection. I drooled over that pair of photos of the Ceraunus Blue; it’s such a beauty. I was quite taken with the roseate skimmer, too. I’ve only seen one in the wild, but that color sure does attract the eye. I never make the mistake of trying to choose a ‘favorite’ here, but that image of the climbing aster and its reflection is one I returned to several times: most enjoyable.
I laughed at “fall has fell.” That’s a perfect compliment to one a grew up with: “spring has sprung.”
With below freezing temperatures on their way, “Winter has won” might do.
LikeLike
The equipment does help, but my working photo motto produces the best results: “Better lucky than good.”.
You’re the only one to connect the title to that classic rhyme I had in mind. Great minds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a wonderful place just eight minutes from home is something that I can only dream of, Wally, and then to find two Odonata firsts like that is just fabulous.
Best wishes to you both from a cold but sunny England – – – Richard
LikeLike
Thank you, Richard. We really are fortunate to have some natural places to explore so close to where we live. We are truly spoiled.
The new damsel and dragon made it quite a special day.
Gini and I will send you more sunshine – just as soon as we see it again. Brrr!
LikeLike
All great shots but that the damselflies mating is outstanding!
LikeLike
Thanks, Dina.
They were otherwise occupied so I was able to get closer than normal.
LikeLike
How amazing to get to see something you’ve never seen before and never seen in your county. Wow! That is great! Your photos are so good for helping with an ID. Love that beautiful Hawk in flight! Enjoy your weekend! With our current weather pattern…you can sleep in every other day! lol
LikeLike
Thank you, Diane. It was a very rewarding trip.
As it happens, I don’t need a weather pattern to sleep in, it just comes naturally!
LikeLike
Oh, that was just a clock hitting the wall. I thought it was the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. Nice getting a topside view of one of those little Blues. Congrats on your sighting of the Variegated Meadowhawk. I’m envious of your weather– you are 8 minutes from your patch, while my “patch” is a fenced back yard. The weather has permitted me only one photo-excursion in more than a week.
LikeLike
Don’t be envious, Ken. Think of all the things you have that we don’t. Warblers in breeding plumage, chipmunks, snow, ice – okay, never mind.
Thank you for dropping by. We’ll keep the coffee hot any time you want to visit.
LikeLike
And here’s me thinking that Wally and Gini would be Tony Bennett fans only then to discover that their wild parties have Sinatra instead. Even worse, I was not invited to the said parties to strut my stuff and jump naked into the pool at three am. I shall have my revenge when next you come to England by leaving you stranded at a Londonistan tube station instead of whisking you north to the delights of rural Lancashire.
You redeemed yourself somewhat by including my boyhood heroes The Lone Ranger, Tonto and Hi Ho Silver. Good day Kemo Sabi. Please pass on my Give my best wishes to your squaw Gini.
LikeLike
All our Tony Bennett vinyls disappeared about the time Number One Daughter moved out. Just a coincidence, I’m sure.
We are shocked, shocked I say, that your invitation was lost. The stories we heard about the vaunted mail service of the United Kingdom must have been mistaken.
You missed quite a party. Pay no attention to the rumors Gini had to awaken me in order to toast the New Year. I was just resting my eyes. For a couple of hours.
The vision of Northwest England’s premier bird ringer strutting some sort of stuff while unclothed and attempting to jump into a non-existent pool has prompted Gini to inquire about the details of losing future invitations.
You have redeemed yourself by indicating we share some boyhood heroes. Your have stumbled greatly by indicating SWMBO may hold anything resembling an inferior title within our relationship.
Not leaving us stranded in Londonistan will go a long way to recovering your saintly reputation.
Meanwhile, the swamp is delightful this time of year. We are reasonably well and despite any misunderstanding caused by distance and probable language differences, Gini and I wish you and Sue all the best as we barrel toward Spring.
LikeLike
Love the hawks in particular in this post. Thanks for the beautiful pics.
LikeLike
We love them too!
Thank you so much for visiting with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that was some trip, 2 brand new dragons you lucky people!
The hawk photos are excellent good job it was more intent on eating that ‘hopper.
LikeLike
It was quite the trip, Brian.
That young hawk remained on his branch about 30 feet distance while I happily snapped away. He’ll soon learn to fly away from creatures such as I.
The new odes were a very nice year end bonus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always, I marvel at your beautiful photos of a variety of creatures. You found two new county insects?! How amazing is that. Congratulations!
LikeLike
Thank you very much, Tanja. We appreciate the kind words.
It was a fun day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful photos! Thanks for getting up at such an inhumane hour. The hawk in flight was the show-stealer for me!
LikeLike
Thank you, Peter.
That little speedster pretty much made my day.
LikeLike
I am a very early riser. Well before dawn. My partner prefers to spring (slowly) out of bed at the crack of noon. His loss.
I delighted (as I always do) in sharing your expedition. Thank you.
LikeLike
Happy to share our adventures with anyone brave enough to follow along.
Hope your summer is as mild as our winter.
(I probably should not have said that out loud.)
LikeLike
I wish. How I wish.
LikeLike
We’ll reflect not only on your particularly boisterous introduction but also on the reflected image of the aster bush that follows those words. And speaking of words, your idiosyncratic “Fall had fell” conjured up Bob Dylan in 1966:
“Then time will tell just who has fell
And who’s been left behind.
When you go your way and I go mine.”
You were fortunate to get plenty of blue to contrast with the red bands on your newly found dragonfly. And how about the neon green in those mating forktails!
Hemiargus ceraunus is one butterfly central Texas shares with you. Double sharing if the flower it’s on is Indigofera miniata.
LikeLike
Thanks for putting up with a bit of silliness as the new year progresses.
Great Dylan song.
Close on the Ceraunus Blue’s perch. It’s I. hirsuta.
LikeLike