Tag: denver

The Assassin

On By Mike and Christy1 Comment

While checking out the Coneflowers the other day we came across this really cool insect called an Assassin bug.


At one point we found them stalking prey in their world of flowers. The other insect noticed the Assassin on their trail and quickly hopped away avoiding becoming a meal.

Assassin Bugs are ambush hunters that use their long rostrum to inject digestive enzymes into their prey. Their bite is said to be quite painful yet without long term consequences.

So from now on I will be keeping my eyes open and hands a safe distance from this guys home in the coneflowers as summer carries on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduviidae

The Charmer

On By Mike and Christy4 Comments

Some guys just know that they have the stuff to get the ladies and this is one of those guys…The Charmer. There were numerous Red Winged Blackbirds on the pond this day all strutting there stuff but to my untrained eye, heck i’m a human not a female Red Winged Blackbird, this guy just stood out.

He sang his song like no others birds on the pond and with a style non could match.

When he finished singing he put his brilliant red wings on display which none of the other males were doing. Most just sang and sang.

Yes…this guy knows he is The Charmer.

 

Yellow Rumped (Myrtle) Warbler

On By Mike and Christy4 Comments

A male Yellow Rumped Warbler of the Myrtle variety give us both a right and left profile as we followed him through the woods as he passed through our area on his spring migration. These little guys only hang around for a few weeks so it was nice albeit frustrating at times to get a little looks as these every busy and moving little birds.

Barn Swallows

On By Mike and Christy5 Comments

Yesterday these two Barn Swallows were hanging out on a fence near a lake where we took an afternoon walk. Nice to see them back in town and their colors are sure vibrant right now. Soon after these photos were shot they took off and were buzzing around the lake hunting for bugs which is always an amazing sight to observe.

Lucky Duck

On By Mike and Christy1 Comment

lukcy_duck

This dive sure paid off.

After a few cold days there was only a small hole in the ice on one of the local ponds we visit to watch the wintering waterfowl. On this day the fishing was good and a Common Goldeneye hauled in a monster Crayfish and even got away with it before the gulls spotted him. Lucky Duck!

 

For the next couple of weeks we will be posting some of our favorite posts from the past as we take a small respite from the digital world.