Escape from my own backyard

Although it wasn't the road trip I'd dreamed up, it was a nice drive to some old favourite places. This morning between my sore throat, the threat of all-day rain and the failure of my potential navigator to report for duty or at least report that they were bailing - I decided to nix the trip. It was of a scale that required being on the road by 9 or 10 and it just wasn't going to happen. So I attacked the kitchen and cleaned the neglected corners and generally didn't feel too bad about passing up the trip. However, my friend finally showed up around 3 and we headed to my favourite field site and a provincial park that I'd been wondering about for some time. And it rained... and it rained some more... until I was drenched to the bone. But now I'm warm and dry and wearing fuzzy socks - so hopefully it won't be a problem for my throat. I'm kind of glad I made it back to my old stomping grounds to drive on my favourite back roads and hike in the rain.


Here is a jewelwing at Cataract.

Three is a Crowd

I pity the mosquito that flies past this leaf.

Perched

More dragonflies - I couldn't decide if I liked the close up or the other one better. - now one last pic and back to work for me

Prepare for Launch - Launch for Lunch

Dragonfly photography seems to have been a more sucessful replacement for my ill fated attempts at photographing mushrooms at twilight. Let's just say that it didn't work well.

JP

Wings over water

Wings over water
Stalking silent from leaf's perch
Deadly beauty waits

Damselfly on a blade of grass

Jewelwing Jamboree

Today the jewelwings adorned the riverside bushes like sparkling berries - flocks of them galvanting in the grass and weeds - chasing each other relentlessly. I'll post a couple more pictures too... I also think I saw a flying squirrel, but it was well up a tree so I couldn't see it well and the pictures were painfully blurry.

Dragonfly Rescuers Downstream

This sharp looking jewelwing and his partner (or rival) were nearly spider-lunch - however, I decided to intervene on account that anything that eats things that bite me deserves to live and while the spider would eat the mosquitos too - hunger might make him try harder and build more webs. I just don't think I wanted to seemt them struggle and die. I've watched a spider take and wrap a fly.. its facinating, but not what I was in the mood for today.

Today was a survey day, so I spent most of it in a pleasantly semi-shaded woodland near a most spiffy looking stream. Not bad - and the equipment didn't throw us any curve balls that we couldn't sort out. Not too bad...

Cheers,

Jennith