Given my abysmal skills at dragonfly identification I suspect this beautiful looking creature is some species of Red Meadowhawk Dragonfly.
Even though Fall is almost here there are some Dragonflies still buzzing about when the sun is out.
Tag: nature photography
On a single thistle
With all the other wildflowers long gone to seed a single thistle along the side of the road reminded me of one of those photos of the lone remaining watering hole in the Serengeti attracting animals from near and far for a nice cool drink. Only this thistle attracted the remaining nectar and pollen lovers in the area including skippers galore, whites and several alpine butterflies which all gathered to get that one last sip of nectar before summer slips away.
Magpie Monday
This Magpie was just spending some time hanging out on a picnic tale and allowed us to get unusually close. There must have been hidden treasures close at hand which gave us a nice opportunity to take a quick portrait for Magpie Monday.
Red Tailed on a grey day
We seemed to have settled into a very late fall like weather pattern as of late with sunshine appearing mid-morning then giving way to cloudy afternoon skies. We spotted this good looking Red Tailed Hawk on one of those cloudy afternoons perched on the remnants of a very fall looking tree.
In The Willows
You never know what you will find hidden in the willows is what this guy was probably thinking when he noticed we were peeking in from the edge of his terrain. It always amazes me just how easy a creature the size of the moose can disappear from your sight with a simple step or two into the willows. Photographed near Cottonwood pass in Colorado.
Flycatchin’
The flies were abundant that afternoon and so were the flycatchers.
This little flycatcher took a second to rest and pose with his catch. Good work as there were families to feed.
White on white
Perhaps a Margined White or another version of the Family Pieridae enjoying some time resting on a nice white wildflower. White on white…not a bad combination.
A dragonflies flight
Relentlessly buzzing and zooming while patrolling his small pond a dragonflies flight is something to behold.
This patch of pond must have been a treasure worth holding onto as anyone who dare flew into his view was quickly escorted away with a swift deliberate attack. As he flew head on into the camera we got a quick a cursory glance then he was gone.
Woodland Pinedrops: Pterospora andromedea
Earlier this summer we ran across a peculiar plant making its way up through the earth in the forest. A strange striped asparagus? No Woodland Pinedrops: Pterospora andromeda.
According to Wikipedia “Like all members of the Monotriopoidiae , Pterospora andromedea lacks chlorophyll (trace amounts have been identified, but not enough to provide energy for the plant or to color it. Plants exist for most of their life as a mass of brittle, but fleshy, roots. They live in a parasitic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, in which plants derive all their carbon from their associated fungus, but the relationship is not yet well understood.”
This makes it similar to several of the orchids we have encountered along the trail.
Now that summer has passed and fall is in the air the plant looks like this.
Somewhat like a small tree full of small pumpkins decorating the autumn forest.
Passing Storm
With the rain came a quietness that only rain can bring. Looking out into the big Pacific Ocean off the NW coast of Vancouver Island.
nature has no boss 
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