I call this black dragonfly a “Night Fury” because I had been trying to get a photo of it for over a week — it had not let me get close enough to it until I climbed into the bamboo patch just before sundown and waited for it to land close enough to focus on it. The other two dragonflies in this series were very cooperative, as usual, but the Night Fury refused to land anywhere in the open outside the bamboo patch.
Insect games with a grasshopper, damselfly and stinking squash bug.
Playing peekaboo with a grasshopper.
Wild turkey hanging out on the neighbor’s wall.
When I went out at 2:00 am to let in the irrigation water, this spider had built her web on the gate. A smaller male was hanging out off to the side.
A black and yellow dragonfly showed up. It was timid at first, but finally let be get close enough to get some clear shots. There was another dragonfly that looked to be all black, but it never let me get close enough to see what color rally was.
“Do you, by chance, have anymore rats?” Blue was hunting, and giving me her “please feed me” looks while I was working on the darkroom. I just fed her last week, but it’s been warm, so she thinks she ready for a couple more rats. She’s not always the best model because when she’s out of her cage she won’t hold still — always looking for some trouble to get into — but she was really getting into some great poses between her begging, being pitiful and acting cute. Tristan came up with the title.
First dragonfly of the season. The bumblebees love clover.
Interesting Koi. Laurie walks another labyrinth while I watch from a lounge chair.
We also came across a couple of Collared Lizards while on our hike in the canyon at Desert Harbor Retreat (see earlier posts, starting with Off The Grid for the full series on Desert Harbor Retreat). The first we lizard saw was shy and wary of us, but the second lizard was a real show lizard who made a reptilian fashion statement by moving from one rock to another striking poses, then striking the perfect show lizard pose on a weathered log. I simply followed her around capturing her poses and cute expressions.
Off Center & Not Even 