Looking At Insects. #28 Flower Fly.

Hi everyone and welcome back!

Today we have something really cool. Although this looks like a bumble bee, it is actually a flower fly. This one is the “Yellow-faced Swiftwing”. It is an amazing bumble bee mimic, as they are called when one species looks like another. I searched all summer to find one of these and was finally successful back in August.

These are fairly common, more so in the west, but they can be found right across Canada, up into the Arctic, into Alaska and throughout most of the western US. They are found anytime from late May to the end of August. They do not bite or sting, just a harmless flower fly and an important pollinator. I hope you enjoy this one today, have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2022 Steve McLeod.

Midweek Coffee Chat. #19

Good morning to everyone on this sunny Wednesday! Well, it did not get quite as cold as what was forecast for us, so that part is nice. Although, another frost would have been good to get those leaves changing color faster. Frost is not actually needed for the leaves to change color though, that happens due to less daylight in the fall which signals to the trees it is time to go dormant.

So the leaves stop their normal functions and the changing of color happens. That is a simple look at it, however, it is a bit more complicated. But, a frost will get things moving faster and get trees changing color at the same time, which gives a nice big splash of color for fall. And some beautiful photography opportunities as well.

A Turkey Vulture flying overhead the other day, there were 3 of them.

Since I have decided to cancel my river walks until winter, I will miss a lot of that fall splash of color. But there might be other possibilities open up for some nice autumn photography. Right now I am actually hoping for an early winter. I never thought I would actually say that. But that would take care of the bear problem, and therefore, my bird feeder problems too. Right now I have no idea what to do about feeding the birds.

One of more than 100 grackles the other day.

If I even put up a new pole for the feeders, the bear will likely pull it down, like she did with the other one. However, waiting for the cold weather to hit before I work on it, well, that is not a good idea, too hard on my arthritis to work in the cold. I could take a chance and put it up now, just leave the feeders off until winter arrives, and hope she does not tear it down. But if she does tear it down, it could damage the deck, and my landlord might not like that.

But birds, especially smaller birds, stake out their winter feeding areas this time of the year. They need to do that so they have a good supply of food for the winter. So I need to feed now, or risk losing my birds, and once they leave, they will not come back. Decisions. I have an idea, but will it work? Guess I will find out. Sigh. Sorry for the ramble, but that is what is happening right now.

Blue Jay from Monday.

It is a beautiful morning! Skamper, Skitter and GPS were here for a short time yesterday afternoon. They each made 4 trips, then they were gone again. The blue jays are here right now getting some peanuts. The leaves are starting to change color and shining bright in the sun. Time for some more fall cleaning. I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2022 Steve McLeod.