Sometimes...

...it's the easiest shot that demands to be blipped.  Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are embarrassingly easy to photograph because they tend to nectar with their wings spread wide open with minimal fluttering.  This allows many chances to get shots like this which show the beautiful textures and colors of the wings.  What is a bit more challenging is to find a swallowtail that isn't missing any of its parts so this was a nice find.  She (the females are easy to identify because of al the blue on their hind wing) was one of 7 tigers fluttering around my big buddleia shrub, and the only one that didn't have a "tail" or part of a wing gone.  Her wings show almost no signs of wear so my guess is that she recently emerged.  

It is wretchedly hot out again today so I have spent only small amounts of time outside.  Would be better if there was some cloud cover, but there is nothing but a blazing, hot sun.  Making me very grateful for air conditioning!  The highlight of the day was seeing the first male carpenter bee on patrol in the garden - see HERE.  Definitely a subject for a future blip!

Last night I was able to observe and photograph an adorable Eastern Screech Owl being released at our friends' farm.  Gender unnown, but I'll just refer to it as him.  He kept his big yellow eyes tightly closed at first, almost as if to say - if I can't see you, then I must be safe.  Finally, after a minute or so in Giselle's hand, he cracked his eyes open every so slightly.  And when it was time to let him go, he lifted off and flew, straight and true, into the woods.  The farm has everything he could possibly need to thrive - a completely un-treated supply of prey (it's an organic farm), open fields to hunt, trees for cover, a nest box in case he wants it and a small stream.  And the best landlords ever.  I'll put a shot of him in Extra as he was peeking at us from Giselle's hand.  Could he be any cuter???

Tomorrow Hubs and his racing partner are taking the racecar to Pocono for a track day.  If all goes well, they'll head to Ohio next month for a race - fingers crossed.  Fortunately, tomorrow won't be as hot, although the humidity will be quite high with a chance of thunderstorms.  

Dark with dried cherries today.  

xo
Debbi