latraviata's Favorites

(Photos taken from inside of my car - to minimize disturbance.)

Three bears. Two cubs and an adult.

Until today, I always found bears here. Today, I looked for three hours and found none. On my way out, I decided to turn around and drive through... one more time. Within moments, I saw two distant - very distant - bears in a field. Then I drove a little further - and enjoyed long looks at a family of 6 Eastern Kingbirds, a Baltimore Oriole and a couple hundred Bobolinks. As I turned the corner, I saw cars in the distance and long lens photographers out of their cars. These bears are what they were photoing. I wish people would stay in their cars. The mother bear seemed hot and restless. (Was she anxious about all of the humans under her babies?) And the cubs were seeing and hearing people - aka becoming habituating to people. Not good. There were 7-8 cars and a Mercedes-esque tour bus... when I left.

The refuge closed the area used by the red wolves; and I am glad. (Those wolves are the last wild red wolves in the WHOLE WORLD.) I would support more of the refuge being closed to the public.

I wish there was a way to enforce keeping refuge visitors inside of their cars.

From what I read, Clubbed Mydas are not supposed to attack other insects but I saw this one fly off and bring down a large Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. Perhaps I have misidentified a Robber Fly as a Mydas Fly. Any insights appreciated.

juvenile. I watched this one as it hopped around the backyard for 20 minutes or so carrying a stick, then dropping it in favor of another stick or feather it found. Then repeat the cycle. Been watching momma build a new nest perhaps?

1st photo - loose fragment from forest floor beside the rock, the fragment presumably dislodged by the Squirrel that had used the rock as place to shuck and eat its Hickory nuts, the evidence I cleaned-up so as to present a clean specimen for photography.

Epipetric/saxicolous, not the usual epiphytic habit on tree bark.