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He was such a cutie!

A few weeks ago, I had spotted a Wood Duck at a local pond. He was in his eclipse plumage. Fast forward to November 14th and a friend of mine shares photos of the Wood Duck with me, now in it's breeding plumage. Excited, I decided to go to Martia Payne Pond again to see the duck.

So on Friday, I went. It was quite a great day for duck watching. I saw my first Green-winged Teals! However, the Wood Duck was nowhere to be seen. I began to walk around the water in search of the Wood Duck. Suddenly, I hear a cheep, I looked down, and in the water there it was!

He had been swimming by a log. Not soon after his discovery, a pair of Mallards swam toward us. The Wood Duck had to chase away the drake.

I made sure to get photos of the incredibly beautiful duck!

After a short time, my Mom and I began to walk away. To our surprise, the Wood Duck followed! It followed and followed, even coming up on land once we got far enough. It was strangely friendly. He would always look at us.

We decided to name him 'Buzz', since 'Woody' would have been too predictable.

As I went to photograph the geese, my Mom kept Buzz company. He had gone back into the water where he continued to swim after my Mom. Eventually, all the ducks trailed behind her. Buzz would even find a fallen Goldenrod to snack on.

After being at the pond for an hour, it was time to go. As my Mom and I reached the end of the pond, a layer of ice blocked the ducks' path. We said goodbye to Buzz and went home.

Hopefully we'll be able to see Buzz again someday soon. He's quite the charmer.

As the sun sets on the warm summer day, the carrots stand strong in the field, their peddles illuminated by the light of an ending day. In the flowery platforms, the beetles come together, to create the next generation.

Certainly the most famous owl in Southern California today. Watched by a crowd of several dozen birders. I called a local bird rehab and they confirmed she was doing well, and is likely the same individual in this observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/141840954

A Western Tanager was found at this park on May 9. I thought it would be nice if I found it while birding in this park but I wasn't counting on it. I stopped at a spot to get a photo of a woodpecker and a bird flew onto a branch not 10 feet from my head. I looked and realized it was the Tanager! A group of birders had just entered the park nearby and it was an exciting time for all of us.

I heard this wren calling from a certain patch of trees, so I decided to see if I could get closer. The ground was swampy so it took a while to find a good path. When I reached the spot it flew away, but not very far, so I found a comfortable patch of dry grass and lay down to wait. After a few minutes it returned, and I was able to get some good pictures as well as a video of it singing (which can be seen here). I also saw several other Marsh Wrens and a Downy Woodpecker in the nearby trees.

This bird was sitting below the kitchen window. It must have flown into it, although I didn't see or hear it hit. It let me pick it up, but seemed alert and uninjured. I held it for a little while and it started calling loudly. Then it flew out of my hands and perched on my dad's shirt! After sitting there for less than a minute, it flew to a nearby tree and perched there, still calling.

I believe this was the male from an hour previously, leaving the bromeliad to go live and love some more. He had climbed up to the end of a leaf from the neighbouring bromeliad. He does look a lot yellower than the photos from 19:24, so I am not sure if it is the same individual or not. In the subsequent two days, no adult frog was seen in this bromeliad.

Wild Hyacinth (Eastern Camas, Atlantic Camas) - Camassia scilloides
I found a pretty patch of these on the roadside bordering Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in central Ohio. I was enchanted by its delicate color and the form of its buds.
References

• Brandenburg, National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America (Sterling, 2010), p. 328
• Newcomb and Morrison, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide (Little, Brown; 1977), pp. 332-333
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=casc5

Great Purple Hairstreak - Atlides halesus
bugguide.net/node/view/2844
Location: Durham NC (USA)
I encountered this fresh butterfly on a cool evening thanks to my dog, who found it on the road under a street light and tried to eat it. After losing it once, I returned a couple of hours later and was able to photograph it. The hostplant is mistletoe, which is uncommon in this neighborhood, but I have found the butterfly a few times over the last several years. Happy Wing Wednesday!
Edit. Added some studio shots taken later to highlight possible aposematic and mimetic markings.

Definitely loitering, a thousand little fines await?

Favorite bee at top-center-left, clearly supporting the whole colony with its little bee arms.

Last photo is ~8 hours later, shows nearly all bees had left.