Myrtle Beach

We were in Myrtle Beach, SC for a retreat 14-16 OCT and I found a few wings with my camera on Sunday afternoon. I got several good shots of Common Moorhen, which I have a soft spot for. It's one of those birds that, for me, has a special place in my heart because I was so excited the first time I saw one, because it was unexpected, on the last day of a trip, when I wasn't expecting to see any birds...



Two odes cooperated for my camera, a life Rambur's Forktail (very sharp looking damsel)



and then almost omnipresent Blue Dashers...

To the River

Took the family to the Riverwalk in Coumbia, on the Congaree River on Sunday. The water levels have been low due to a ongoing lack of rain for several weeks. This is the best time to go, however, because we can go explore on the rocks!


Alas, it is getting late in the season already for Odes. However, the most numerous by far were the American Rubyspots. They tended to be VERY skittish, but I finally managed some good shots of them. Here's my best one of the day.

Canoe Trip

My wife and I recently took a canoe trip on the Edisto River through Carolina Heritage Outfitters. It was nice, just the two of us! We had perfect weather and a very relaxing time just floating down the river. We stayed overnight in a treehouse (how cool is that!) and then floated some more the second day.



Along the way, we saw two alligators, tons of vultures (Mostly Turkey, but several Black as well), an Anhinga, a flock of immature White Ibis and lots of Little Blue Herons. There were, of course, some odes and butterflies to be seen as well.

This Roseate Skimmer provided a show as it patrolled the shoreline near where we stopped for lunch on the second day.



A Black-shouldered Spinyleg took the opportunity to ride with us for a few minutes on the canoe.


I also got some shots of several different butterflies, none of which I have ID'ed yet. (I have got to get a butterfly book.)

Something Different

That's not a bird or an Ode, it's a butterfly! Yes, I've expanded again. We were at the park on Labor Day with the kids trying to fly kites but the wind was not cooperating so I picked up my trusty camera and started shooting some butterflies in a nearby flowerbed.

Here is another shot of the Viceroy.


The most plentiful were the Buckeyes. Note the really cool "eye patches" on the wings.


There were also several Gulf Fritillaries around. Now, Viceroy and Buckeye sound okay, but you start throwing out Gulf Fritlillary, and I think it counts me as a Butterfly nerd....Checkout the cool pattern underneath these, though....

Love is in the Air

Took a trip to Ashland, Ohio the other week and was able to squeeze in some time to photograph some Odes. It was a nice summer day and the damselflies seemed to be feeling frisky.



I also (of course!) had a mystery or two....

Here's the first one. It looks to be a female Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion conditum) but it is too late in the year by a couple of weeks (seen 21 July) and it doesn't have the usual spread-wing posture that this species is supposed to display.



The second isn't a very good picture, but you can get the pattern and the distinct orange coloration.