Wildlife at Home, the Wetlands and Lakeside Park

The photo you're about to see appears to show a bumblebee clinging to a beautiful goldenrod flower, but look closer: The bumblebee was actually lifeless and was being prevented from falling by the vice-like grip of an ambush bug. There are two mating ambush bugs in the photo, the larger female is feeding on the bumblebee! I had wondered where all the frogs had gone. I hadn't heard any croaking for weeks now. A little attention to detail on my part and I found the frogs were all around me, although not croaking: A close-up of another green frog: This photo was not taken at Lakeside Park but at my home. I took the opportunity to bring out my oldest Pentax camera with only 6 megapixels onboard while I barbecued a little something to eat. It's an old camera, but it can still perform in the right light. The bird in the photo is a house finch: Copyright  ©  wildlakeside.blogpot.com 2019 Scott Atkinson All Rights Reserved.

No Lakeside Park for me today. With contractors coming in the early hours to replace a bathtub, I'd be house sitting for the best part of the day. A good opportunity to capture what wildlife my feeders are attracting in our garden. I set up a tripod with a good view through the patio doors. I also wanted to try out the second hand Soligor 350mm lens which I'd upgraded with a lens hood to hopefully reduce flare. I'll post the pictures as taken. First off is a house finch, which we have many being attracted to the sunflower seeds in the feeders: We also have house sparrows, and you'd think they'd dominate, being larger, but not at all. They actually wait their turn after the house finches. Here's a male house sparrow, waiting: Lots of chickadees, and I do love them as they are a close relative to the blue tits, great tits, coal tits and my favorite, the long-tailed tits from the UK. Here is a chickadee with the bath all to itself: A few you...