Watching Nature Is Not Always A Joy

Watching Nature Is Not Always A Joy

June 18, 2013

 

Butterfly that emerged from its chrysalis before my eyes today.

Photo Credit:  www.idleatlast.com

 

     The fuzzy photo above is that of a butterfly that emerged from its chrysalis while I was watching.  It happened very quickly.  However, the Monarch butterfly didn't seem to be able to do what it should do:  climb up the net enclosure to dry its wings.   As it was emerging, the chrysalis and butterfly both dropped to the bottom of the mesh enclosure...thus interrupting the natural process. 

 

This shows what should have happened today, but it didn't.

Photo Credit:  www.monarch-butterfly.com

 

 

     I'm keeping a friend's large mesh butterfly enclosure for her, which still has at least 8-10 more future butterfly births to go.  I don't think I can stand this.  Out of the three that have emerged so far, only one has made it to the successful  flying stage, which was glorious. 



 

     So, I took this newest butterfly to a nearby plant in my butterfly garden, but it still wasn't able to hold on to any plant stalk to finish its "birth" process.  Sadly, I have tried various ideas for helping it, but it just isn't going to be able to fly.  Nature, I don't like this part of your wonders.

 

     I'm actually thinking of pulling down each chrysalis and tossing it into the shrubbery.  Let "Nature take its course" where I don't have to see it.

 

     That's very ironic, because I have written several posts about enjoying the wonders of watching live eagle cameras as the eggs hatch, the eaglets grow up, and the young eagles fly away forever.

 

     With butterflies not in captivity, you don't actually see the ones that can't fly away, do you?  You only notice the fabulously colored ones as they flit and land among flowers. 

 



This is what is supposed to happen after the butterfly's wings have dried completely. 

Photo Credit:  www.ccool-animals.blogspot.com

 

     Please appreciate all of the butterflies you see this summer.  Only ten more butterflies will I have to watch as they struggle for life this month.  Sigh....

 



     Click here to see my pinterest interests.

See Ya' Later, Alligator! Maybe I Won't Go Fishing Again January 16, 2013

See Ya' Later Alligator!

Maybe I Won't Go Fishing Again

 

January 16, 2013

 

    

     On my way home from work, I stopped at my favorite park on the Little Econ River to sit awhile and watch the ibis, lots of ibis, splashing and walking around in the water.

 

     I parked my car, walked a few yards across a bike/jogging path to sit at a picnic bench near the bank of the river.  I've done this lots of times and have written about it.

 

     Today, I looked across the river, about 100 yards wide, to see if other ibis were on the other side, as they usually are.  Nope.  No ibis.  So I sat and relaxed, and enjoyed watching, just watching.

 

     After about 15 minutes, I stood up to leave when something caught my eye across the river.  There was a long, long alligator swimming slowly upstream, right next to the bank of the river.  I could see its huge head, its curved back, and its long tail moving slowly, slowly.  Finally it slid under some overhanging cypress branches.  Then it just waited, its 12-foot long dinosaur body just waited.

 

 

This link shows a short video of a large gator similar to what I saw today. 

 



      This gave me pause for thought:  Do you suppose this huge alligator sometimes swims on the side of the river where all of the nature lovers hang out?  I think I already know this answer.  Yes, of course.



 

     So, I'm thinking that if that gigantic creature is part of my nature dream, I may have to rethink my dream.  Maybe I'll do my fishing from a very large boat next time. 

 



 

 

Click on this link to see my pinterest interests. Look at my "Animals, Just Animals" board. No alligators.

 

    

Best Holiday Week--Now I'm Going Fishing December 29, 2012

Best Holiday Week

Now I'm Going Fishing

 

December 29, 2012

 

     It's been such a lovely week, and only week one of my Christmas holidays vacation.  There are still eight more days of vacation before work calls again.  I do hope everyone had a happy Christmas or Hanukkah.

 

     With all the little pleasures of meals and casual evenings with friends and family, I have thoroughly enjoyed this week.  For the past two days I have just enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels, watching nature from my picture window, and relaxing.

 

      One of my little pleasures was making winter bird feeders to hang in the branches of shrubs near my bird feeder.  Here are the directions, so don't laugh:

 

      Take a toilet tissue roll, coat with creamy peanut butter, roll in birdseed, thread a string or ribbon through the roll, tie a knot, and hang outside for the birds.  You can also just put it through a bare branch like the photo above. Squirrels and birds love these and I am going to continue to make these all winter. 

 

Click here to see how to make the bird feeder. Cute website.

 

     My relaxing involved watching hours and hours of the original version of "Upstairs, Downstairs" on my computer.  Click here to watch one of the episodes.   

 



 

     While I really only listened to the episodes, I spent hours on pinterest.com, read news stories, and played lots of computer card games.  This must be what retirement will be like.  Nice.

 

     Now it's time to go fishing in the park at the riverbank I wrote about weeks ago.  Today, although it is lightly raining, I shall put my fishing tackle in some kind of container, complete with that knife for protection from alligators. 

 

     But first I have to attach a hook and weight to the brand new fishing rod I bought.  I've got to find a way to attach that rubber lure to the hook, because I'm really a salt-water fishing person.

 

     I'm borrowing my neighbor's canvas camping chair, complete with drink holder.  I'm packing a light lunch and a few bottles of water, probably 4 bottles, in case the fish don't bite and I have nothing to do.

 

     Since I want to absorb all the nature in the park, I'll be bringing my camera this time out, and will keep binoculars close at hand. 

 

      But wait, there's more:

 

     Yesterday, while driving through my neighborhood, I saw a turkey vulture (with the red face) feasting on a rather gruesome meal in someone's driveway.  It appeared to be a squirrel, but I'm afraid it was a cat.  Yum-yum.  

 

     Here is a turkey vulture.  Click here to learn more about turkey vultures. Ewwww.

 





 

     So, off I go to commune with nature and torture the fish.  Happy New Year  2013 to everyone.

 

Click here to view my pinterest interests.

 

     

Florida Black Vultures and Ibis Bathe Together December 19, 2012

Florida Black Vultures and Ibis Bathe Together This Morning

 

December 19, 2012

 

      After wrapping all 20 of the presents for my grandchildren at 7am today, I packed the presents in my car.  It only took one hour and I made a present wrapping station in my spare bedroom.  It was a pleasure knowing I had gotten exactly what they had put on their "Four Gifts" lists for me.   The box of presents is well on its way to their home and will arrive in a few days.   

 

      But wait, there is more...

 

      Later, on my way to work, I drove through the Greenway/Park to see the usual gathering of around 50 Florida black vultures.  They were sitting or walking or standing on the bank of the river.   Here are Florida black vultures, but not my photos:

 

   

 

 

      Usually they are watching the ibis, both the white and the brownish ones, wade, eat, and bathe at the river's edge.  Below are the two types of ibis I watched, but not my photos:

 

     

 

       This morning I parked as usual, and sat at a picnic table, about 15 feet away, to wonder at the sight of nature up close.  Funny thing, some of the vultures, about 10 of them, were bathing with the ibis, splashing, dunking their heads, flapping their wings in the water, and washing all over, just like the ibis usually do.

 

       I'm curious to see if they are learning this from the ibis, or if they do this anyway and I hadn't seen it before.  Some of the vultures, standing nearby and watching the sight, began to wander into the water and copy the other birds, too.

 

      For comparison, a Florida black vulture, with a wing span of about 5 feet, weighs about 5 pounds, like a large chicken.  An ibis has a wing span of about 3-4 feet, and it weighs about 2-3 pounds. 

 

      Yet here they were having a swimming play date together, all while I sat and watched.  I love nature up close and undisturbed.   Don't want to go overboard, but make Number 17 on my activities list "Birdwatching up close."

 

Click here to see my board called "For The Birds" on pinterest.com

 

I'll be sure I take my camera to the park every morning now.

 

     

Nine Days of Thanksgiving Holidays To Practice

Nine Days of Thanksgiving Holidays To Try My Retirement Activities

November 17,2012

 

     With my school holidays starting, I am heading out with my beautiful new bike to ride to my heart's content.  But wait, there's more.

 

     When I was forced to take a detour on my way to work a week ago, it sent all traffic through a beautiful greenway/park I didn't know existed.  So for the past week I have taken that detour to and from work.  Immediately upon turning into the park, I become one with nature.

 

     There appears a flowing river,  a wide bike/running/walking/dog walking/stroller-pushing concrete pathway along the entire bank of the river.  Hundreds of migrating birds circle overhead.  Egrets are busying themselves along the river bank across the river.   People are strolling with babies, dogs, walkers, bikers, and I should be there.  Oh, and don't forget the people quietly fishing the river.

 

     Professional size soccer fields, two playgrounds, and one gigantic exercise center are also on the property, safely fenced from pathway traffic and the winding road for car traffic.  Who forgot to tell me about this treasure in Orlando?

 

     So, to add to my retirement activities list, a year ahead of when I'll need it, I'm loading up my bike and heading to that park for some peaceful riding.  I will not have to look for cracks in the road or traffic that might squash me.

 

     Number 9 (or is it 10) on my list is now to head to the park and ride my bike for awhile.  I might even pack a little snack in my bike basket.  Pictures later today.   This practice run will confirm its place on my list.

 

     Have a bountiful Thanksgiving meal, and please help those who need one.

 

 

 

 www.pinterest.com/mimihylton