"BUTTERFLIES & CAIMAN" ~ COWAN ~ ROYAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

"BUTTERFLIES & CAIMAN" ~ COWAN~ ROYAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

"As Mark Cowan traveled down the Amazon, he captured a phenomenal photo of a lounging caiman with a crown of butterflies. The winged creatures need salt to survive, and the water that collects on the caiman's skin is a key provider. 

Cowan's "Butterflies and Caiman" received a 
Special Commendation of the
 2016 Royal Society Photography Competition."

"I MEANT TO DO MY WORK TODAY" ~ RICHARD LeGALLIENNE

   

BABY BONOBO CHIMPANZEE~ JACKSONVILLE ZOO & GARDENS

BABY BONOBO CHIMPANZEE ~ JACKSONVILLE ZOO & GARDENS

 

"Who's our favorite little mud muffin sitting in the stream?

 Lukuru, son of bonobo Jo-T, was born Oct. 1, 2014. Bonobo sons maintain a special relationship with their mothers, even after they become adults. In bonobo societies, females are dominant. So sons need the help of their mothers to fit in and be successful. Sons stay in their natal group their entire lives. Females migrate out and join other groups."

Jesse Williams with Jo Myers Thompson at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

NEW BABY BORNEAN ORANGUTAN ~ SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO

Batang gave birth to a male infant Bornean orangutan last night!

Both he and his mom appear to be doing well.

The Great Ape House is closed to give them time to bond.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME

GOD BLESS AMERICA,

Land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME

YELLOW MIGRATING BIRDS VISITING MY YARD ON THEIR WAY SOUTH

YELLOW MIGRATING BIRDS VISITING MY YARD ON THEIR WAY SOUTH

LOOKIE WHO'S HERE 

HEY THERE!

Beautiful little migrating birds.

This one might be a "yellow warbler".  Not sure.

Look at this little birdie ~ looking back at me.

It's a lot smaller than the one above.

It loves to bathe in the water that I (purposely) leave on the rocks.

That little bird's flock is here today.

He's loving bathing on the stones, too.
It's such a joy for me to see them happy in my yard, flitting back and forth.

Remember, it seems I always see new ones just in front of cold fronts.

I LOVE this time of year!!!

KRIBA ~ WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA CUDDLES HER BABY ~ TARONGA ZOO IN SYDNEY

KRIBA ~ WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA CUDDLES HER BABY ~ TARONGA ZOO IN SYDNEY

"MOTHER LOVE"

Kriba, a Western Lowland Gorilla cuddles her baby at Taronga Zoo in Sydney

SEEING MY FIRST MIGRATING BALTIMORE ORIOLE THIS YEAR

SEEING MY FIRST MIGRATING BALTIMORE ORIOLE THIS YEAR

I'm so excited!!!
This is the time of year the migrating birds start passing through on their way south.  I've been watching my bird bath for the first migrating BALTIMORE ORIOLE and here it is!
 It might be a juvenile male because of the color.  It's probably a "scout".
 In a couple of days I'm hoping to have lots more BALTIMORE ORIOLES at my bird bath.

Early yesterday morning, I saw some kind of THRUSH in the very back of my yard.
A little later, I saw two more.  For the last couple of weeks, I've heard new sounds in the trees.
I love this time of year.
After the middle of August, I'm always listening for new sounds and watching for unusual movements in the bushes and trees.  I'm so used to watching the birds all summer, I really can tell when things are different.  For the next several days, I'll be "glued" to my windows.
When I'm rushing to take pictures, some are better than others.  I have to be really fast because the birds don't usually hang around.  They keep moving back up to the trees.
Hope you are watching and enjoying your birds and nature, too.