Nature & Wildlife Thread

[JBtheExplorer]

thank you! Part two's theme is plants and animals I saw while camping.

As I showed you in the first part, I found a few patches of Wild Lupine growing on a sand prairie.

Growing next to it was this plant, which I don't know the name of.

dandelion dew.

Marsh Marigold.

Another first sighting for me is this Lady's Slipper.

This flower was interesting. I've got no idea what it is but I need to find out!

Columbine was growing everywhere.

This horsetail is very different from the few kinds I'm used to seeing. It was really cool seeing these along a wetland.

Spider webs lined the river.

I saw a few deer while camping, including these two, which were just across the river from me.

This is one of the Tree Swallows that lives in the house I donated. It was sitting next to me on a sign post.

While Canoeing I found quite a few turtles, mostly Painted Turtles. This one thought he/she was hiding.

 

[addy1]

Great shots jb!

 

[MitchM]

jb, I may have missed it, but what equipment are you using for your photography?

 

[addy1]

I think he said a new canon. I have a nice one, but tend to just have my point in shoot in my pocket when wandering the yard.

 

[michey1st]

Beautiful! I think I was reading that Lupine is on the endangered list -- what a treasure to come across it like that! Around here, a lot of our parks are slowly getting eaten up by invasives (and deer) -- I started volunteering with a program to help restore the forests by picking weeds, but I gotta tell you, it's a little depressing. Your beautiful photos are so rejuvenating!!!

 

[MitchM]

I just use my iphone, but we have a nikon D60 that I never use. I just don't know which lens to buy.
RobAmy have beautiful pictures as well, but they are professional photographers and the equipment they use is not a realistic purchase for me.

 

[addy1]

The vines here are so destructive, overwhelm the trees

I started volunteering with a program to help restore the forests by picking weeds, but I gotta tell you, it's a little depressing.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I started volunteering with a program to help restore the forests by picking weeds, but I gotta tell you, it's a little depressing.

There's a guy I know who volunteers his time on the trail that many of those photos are from. He spends his days cutting invasives, pulling invasives, helping with controlled burns, installing boardwalks, correcting the river, and all sorts of trail maintenance. He works his butt off and the trail has completely changed in the last 3 years. If he walked away from the trail today, the area would still be nicer in 20 years than it was when he started. His work restoring the trail's woodlands, wetlands, and prairie in 3 shorts years shows that even small amounts of volunteering can have a large impact on an area.

jb, I may have missed it, but what equipment are you using for your photography?

Addy's right, my main camera is a Canon Powershot SX160 IS, not expensive by any means for the quality it provides. When I'm canoeing or in water I take my Nikon Coolpix L22 or my Canon Powershot Pro1.

The last set are shots are of the lake. Either while canoeing or from my campsite.

Morning.

Afternoon.

Sunset.

Night.

Canoeing:

 

[Figgy]

I built a Bug Hotel in my garden on Sunday with some help from my daughters. Looking forward to seeing what bugs move in over the coming months. I've put a tray of wildflower seed on the top just behind the cobbles which hopefully will attract some butterflies when they flower.

You can see how we made it and what materials we used by visiting the following link:
http://my-wildlife-pond-project.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/building-bug-hotel-2452015.html

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Last thing from my camping trip, here's all the video I took:

 

[addy1]

Love your bug motel! What a neat idea.

 

[tbendl]

Figgy, any idea what you'll attract to the buggy Motel 6?

 

[Figgy]

Figgy, any idea what you'll attract to the buggy Motel 6?

Well, hopefully the frogs can shelter under the rocks at the bottom. Solitary Bees, Lacewings in the other levels along with other insects that may find there way. Anything will do though as originally I had a pile of logs but the hedgehogs kept knocking those over. At least this way it's a alot more sturdy.

 

[tbendl]

It looks really neat, I hope it works out for you! I'm sure the cat will happy with some new playthings.

 

[addy1]

You need to let us know what moves in, a good science study!