Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Daily Pics #193.
Good morning and Happy Weekend to everyone! It is simply a fabulous morning, though just a bit on the cool side at 57F (14C), due to that strong north wind yesterday. But it is going to reach 81F (27C) today with beautiful sunshine, so that is still a very nice day. I hope it won’t be quite so windy today though. It’s easier to get better pics when there is less wind. And when it’s a strong wind even insects like butterflies and dragonflies tend to look for more sheltered places. Speaking of insects, I have been trying to get some really nice pics of different kinds of insects, and lately, bees and wasps. There are lots around now with all the flowers blooming, but it’s still not that easy sometimes to get the right pictures. There is a certain flower blooming right now, no idea what it is but the bees love them, so I have been sitting in a patch of them trying to get some different pics up close.
But right now, since accidentally dropping my camera on a rock, focusing up close is a real challenge, so it’s taking me longer than expected for my pics. A few wasps and other bee like insects show up also. And two days ago a hornet showed up. I have never seen a hornet that big before, it was huge, and right beside me, about 2 inches (5cm) away. Too close for me so I retreated as quickly as possible without scaring this big critter. That ended my bee photography for the day. Well, today with our flower pictures we are back to the birds once more.
The top featured image is a female goldeneye duck with her brood of little ducklings. That is actually the first time I have seen goldeneye ducklings so that was a nice treat. That photo is actually from a couple weeks back, and that was the only day I saw them. So I’m glad I was able to get a picture of them.
In the photo above is a broad-winged hawk who was getting a bit nervous having me around. The reason was simple, it had a nest in the pine tree where I was standing. So I managed to get some nice pics of this bird nice and close. They are about the size of a crow and can actually get quite vicious in defending their nest. I discovered that one time a few years ago. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
Have a wonderful weekend!😸😁
That’s a really nice hawk pic!
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Thanks so much Lydia! The hawk was only a few feet away so that helped!😀😺🌞☕☕📷
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Steve, I always enjoy your timely words and photographs. Nature certainly inspires all of it. I saw an amazing sight outside my home this morning. A tiny bird was defending his territory from an invading falcon. I watched the aerial “dogfight” for several minutes.
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Thank you so much!
Those tiny birds can be quite fearless in defending their territory and nests, though sometimes it doesn’t end too well for the small birds.
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Great picture of the hawk. And speaking of insects, we’ve been seeing lots of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive species…
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Thanks Jim! Hmm, haven’t seen those around here.
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Apparently it’s a big problem in PA; they are destroying trees…
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I wonder where these things came from originally. Sorry for the late response, I haven’t been well.
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That hawk looks sharp Steve!!!!!!!!
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Thank you Maryam!
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No problem Steve 😺 😸 😻
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Loved the pics ! We have had a lot of monarch butterflies this year…so pretty ! ☕️☕️🙂🐝🦋🌹
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Thanks! That’s something we don’t see around here, the Monarchs, lots of other varieties though.😀😺🌞☕☕
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Great pics Steve! I love the ducks! It’s amazing that it’s cool there! It was 95 here today! 🥵 So hot!
I saw one yellow and black butterfly today and lots of dragonflies while I was mowing grass. I was able to get videos of the dragonfly, but not the butterfly… 😢 The butterflies are too much in a hurry this summer!
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Hi Renee! Thanks so much! I wish we would get back to the hot weather again for a while. Yes, I have had a hard time getting pics of the butterflies this year even though I have seen more this year than I have in years. But they just won’t sit still, just keep flying around! Sorry for the late response, I haven’t been well. Have a good evening Renee!😃😺
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Beautiful picture Steve 😍 hope nothing happened to you,? camera is the same one you dropped last time? 🙄🤔 be careful Steve, do it slow, is the hornet 5 cm😳 the one I have is pretty big, 150CC hornet 😜Bike . Did you hit that hornet? you should have tried to kill it. ensure it didn’t laid any eggs around. Stay safe Steve ✨🤗
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What?😲 Try to kill a hornet that big?😬😬 Maybe it’s a killer hornet!😳😳 Maybe it would carry me back to it’s nest and feed me to it’s babies!😳😲🙄 I’m not going to try and kill it, no way, not me, won’t happen!🤪🤪
Yes, same camera, some times it works good, other times I can’t get it to focus no matter what I do. I think it’s mad at me for dropping it on that rock.😂📷 Works okay on bigger things, but not for smaller things.😕
Back to the office today?🤔 Stay safe, don’t take chances Simon. Have a good day!😁🌞
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Good Evening Steve 😃 What? why? that just a hornet 😜😂. That’s good Same camera it works sometimes, is good though 😉. No I’m not going office, I’m feeling tired, not risking my life😇. I’m taking 2 more days work from home 😊 Good Night 🤗
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Good for you Simon! A smart choice. Work hard and have some fun too! Maybe have a nap, or 2. Good night! I’m off to bed…soon. I think.😁😸🤔
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Don’t wait, 😉to go Bed soon… Good Night Steve 🤗✨
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Good night Simon!😄😴
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Good Night Steve 🤗
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Good night Simon!😁😴🌙 Hmm, seems to me I said this before.🤔
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😂😂 I’m off to bed
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Already?🤔😲 It’s not even midnight yet.😂😹🙄
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I was having mild headache and I slept and woke up at 3:30 😇😜
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Good, you slept longer than normal! Hey, great new pic!😃😺
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😍😍 You noticed that one ,🤗🤗 Thank you 🥰
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You’re welcome. You look different somehow.🤔🤔
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Yes 5 year old pic 😹😂 trying to look more young 😜
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Hey, that’s a great idea!😁 Why didn’t I think of that?🤔
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See that’s a great idea 😉 Try it 😁 I can’t wait to see ur pic 😍
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Problem is, I don’t have any old enough to make me look young enough. Oh well. I’m gone now.🤪😂😹
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😂 you have to try some latest applications to have younger version of yours,😉 like snapchat 😂
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Hmm, that might work.🤔😂😹
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Good Morning Steve 🤗
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What? You’re still awake? You should be sleeping.😁🌙😴
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Great shots, Steve, and I love the pic of the hawk! Have a great remainder of the weekend. 😺 🦆🐧 🍃 🍃🌞☕️☕️
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Thank you so much Eugenia! Sorry for the late response, haven’t been well today.😃😺🌞☕☕
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Oh, I hope you feel better soon. 😟
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Thank you.🙂
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😉
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Be careful with those bees photos 🤪
This is a wonderful hawk saying “stay away, don’t get any closer” 😉
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Yep, I am bee-ing careful! I’m actually surprising myself that I’m getting so close to those bees, normally I try to stay far away, they make me very nervous!
Hawks can be dangerous when protecting their nest, those talons they have can do a lot of damage! Enjoy your day!😀😺🌞☕☕
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