Yellow Jacket, Fore and Aft

Monday, June 22, 2020,

This is a Yellow Jacket. I was photographing Bumblebees in Kings Park when I noticed this scary looking critter on an old piece of lumber. It seemed to be eating something on the wood, or maybe even the wood itself. I was somewhat hesitant to examine its actions closer. Call me a wuss. I can take it. 🙂

This colorful wasp would spend a few minutes “nibbling” at the wood and then it would fly off, only to return to the same spot after ten minutes or so. This went on for about an hour. When I got home, I did some research and found out that Yellow Jackets will chew wood and mix it with their saliva in order to create a quick-drying pulp with which they use to assemble their nests. Pretty cool, right?  JK

JK

 

A Cabbage White in Mattituck

Monday, September 9, 2019,

This is a Cabbage White Butterfly. Go ahead, click on the photo for a better view. This one is worth it. It’s not often that one gets the chance to appreciate just how pretty these ubiquitous butterflies actually are. You can find these guys almost everywhere but I found this one in Mattituck. I had just left a Sunflower field and was heading home when I happened across  this tiny park after missing a turn. What a lucky miss. These lovely violet flowers bordering a small pond after all that yellow were a very welcome change. Please don’t misunderstand me, the sunflowers were terrific, but this little park was like a wonderful dessert that follows a sumptuous dinner. Sometimes, you just enjoy the dessert better.  

The flowers in these photos are called Purple Loosestrife. As beautiful as they are, they are considered an invasive. I sound pretty informed, don’t I? It’s all smoke and mirrors. In fact, I had thought that these might be Lavender. I was, of course, wrong, as is usually the case when it comes to anything plant related. Luckily, I am aware of my faults. Even luckier still, I have an ace in the hole, or rather, a friend in the garden. Whenever I think I might blog about a flower or a plant of any kind, I send my friend Sue Avery an email and she sets me straight. I can guarantee you that nearly every time I mention a plant of any kind, Sue has helped me with the identification. Sue has her own blog and I invite you to check it out. It’s called The Tangled Wood and it is beautifully written. Sue truly has a way with words. Her prose is as poetic as it is informative. I really think you’ll enjoy her style. I know I do. JK.

 

Atlantic Mud Fiddler Crab

Wednesday, August 7, 2019,

About a month ago, I posted a pair of photos of a female Sand Fiddler Crab. I see them quite often at certain shorelines. The crab pictured here is new to me. Its coloration is completely different than the Fiddler Crabs I usually see. This is a male Atlantic Mud Fiddler Crab of the species Uca pugnax. When I first took these pics, I was unsure of what I had so I did some online research. That led me to believe that this was a Mud Fiddler. Then, I emailed my friend Patricia, who used to be an educator at the Long Island Aquarium, and she confirmed my guess. It’s good to have informed friends. Patricia has a photo blog of her own, which is downright stunning. You should check it out.  JK

JK

Up Close and Personal With a Great Egret at Frank Melville Park

Wednesday, July 31, 2019,

These are two closeup photographs of a Great Egret that I saw at Frank Melville Park in Setauket. There is a pair of these that visit the park every day. They may even live there. As you may know from reading my previous posts about Frank Melville, I am a big fan of the park. And so, apparently, are the Great Egrets and many other birds. On the same day that I took these photographs, I also saw a Kingfisher, a Green Heron, and a Black-crowned Night Heron. All are regular visitors to Frank Melville. Maybe you should visit as well. I think you’ll like it there. JK