@kmlisle @kmlisle@qoto.org

Happy New Year from North Florida
May It Be A Good One!

A miracle butterfly (Zebra Longwings, Fla State butterfly) who survived 5 nights in the 20s. Feeding on the remains of my Pentas and a huge Basil survivor that is still blooming. #invertebrates, #nature, #wildlife photography

This was taken earlier this year while I was standing in my front door. The Penta this swallowtail was feeding on is three this year and has become a giant plant, a veritable garden in itself and there have constantly been butterflies visiting: zebra wings, Gulf Fritillaries, Monarchs, yellow sulfurs, black swallowtails, and this lovely yellow swallowtail. But like most of the US this week the weather has dealt us a hard blow. I covered the red and white pentas and their companions but they were down the priority list below the banana grove, papayas, and the food gardens. But they got the leftover covers. We have one more hard frost tonight, and tomorrow I remove the covers and see what is left of my garden, wondering where the butterflies have gone and hoping for resurrection.

One of our favorite hiking trails during the Pandemic was this Flatwoods, full of blooming pitcher plants in the Spring and thousands of blazing stars in the Fall. You always expect a surprise of some sort like these marvelous curving grass seed heads.

Went out to the giant wet prairie near my home recently hoping for Sandhill Cranes. These two and a few hundred others came into the Prairie for the night while we were there. But later in the Season, thousands of cranes will come in, and it is a sight to behold and to hear. The flocks circle first making their haunting calls and birds on the ground answer. They finally settle for the night, sailing in like the pair in the photo. I look forward to the full show later in the year.

I built a Dragonfly pond last Spring hoping that if I build it they (Odes) will come and their children (Nymphs) would grow up in my pond. Never did I imagine that I would host a phantom Darner known for flying in the late twilight hours. Not only did he visit mid-afternoon but this male seemed to be looking for a mate, No w I am hoping for Phantom Darners hatching from my pond someday

Twilight Darners are dark brown with a distinctive square head. I caught this one At Newnan's lake boat ramp on Halloween last year. He was part of a feeding swarm over the canal. They are also common in the late Fall in our suburban backyard and have found their way into our house twice.

This Snowy egret was perfectly framed by Spanish Moss hanging over the boat canal to Newnans Lake, known for its birds and giant alligators. Last Halloween We stopped here to photograph the full moonrise and there were swarms of twilight Darners along this same canal. In mid-November they are long gone.