Category: wildlife

Arrival Of The Cedar Waxwings

Color Photography, wildlife
Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Cedar Waxwings 61620a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

I allowed the big blue truck to coast to a stop on the side of the interstate highway just outside of Summersville West Virginia. The temptation to try and get a few shots of the large pond fed by Muddelty Creek has finally gotten the best of me. I rolled down the passenger side window and looked out at graceful willows as they peered into their own reflections on the water. Light showers disturb the surface of the pond just enough to give the reflections a mystical feel. At times it seems like the other world is just beyond the water in some dream that’s almost tangible. It was at that moment of deep imagination that movement recalled my presence of mind back to the corporeal landscape. They moved in unison while suspended between heaven and earth and lit in the old snag. They didn’t need to vocalize or receive directions from ground control to coordinate their synchronized maneuvers bit instead relied upon the instinctive knowledge of each other. They both just stopped on the dead limbs as if drawn in by a magnet. I extended the lens and held their semblance in my lens. A moment of time held in both my memory and in my camera. But the desire to ebb just a little closer was my downfall and with the opening of the truck’s door they vanished as suddenly as they arrived.

Image Titled “Cedar Waxwings 61620b”

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

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If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Leafhoppers And The Box Fan Trick.

Color Photography, wildlife
Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Candy Striped Leafhopper 61520a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

One of the tiniest creatures in the mountains is also one of our most colorful. The Candy Striped Leafhopper. I always thought that they reminded me of a Neon Tetra sold at pet stores. But this colorful little critter with it’s sweet sounding name is responsible for major damage done to certain timber crops as well as crops like brambles and roses. The insect lands on a leaf and like a vampire sucks the life from the leaf. What’s left behind is a dead, dry curled up leaf that almost looks mummified.

A single Leafhopper by itself does relatively little damage but they can arrive in dense swarms. In late Spring and early Summer we often see clouds insects flying in corkscrew patterns around outdoor lights. Closer inspection will show that a large portion of the swarm to be Green Leafhoppers which have the same feeding patterns as the Candy Striped Leafhopper.

So what do you do about them? Well, I’m in favor of as much natural controls as I can make work. One trick that seemed to have a marginal amount of success in reducing a large number of nocturnal insects was that fan trap. A fan trap is simple to make. You simply take a cheap box fan and attach a thin cloth to the side that blows out. Then a bright light is hung directly in front of fan intake. The insects are drawn to the light and pulled into the fan which pins them to the cloth. The airflow dries them out and they die.

I found that the local songbirds absolutely love the free meal if you empty the cloth in a place where they can find it.

As seen in the video the fan trap can be used in the daytime too. The main things to remember is that you want to protect the fan from the weather. Most box fans are not rated for outdoor use and not only could unexpected rain ruin your fan but there’s also a risk of an electrical fire or shock if the connections get wet. It’s also likely to catch beneficial insects like lacewings in the trap so try to keep an eye on what types of bugs are caught in it.

Of course there’s the insecticidal soaps and systemic chemicals. I try to avoid those because they often kill honeybees and other pollenators. Running the fan traps at night really reduces the risk to honeybees since they’re not normally out at night. And setting up a timer makes it easier to shut the fan trap down before sunrise.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Morning Rise

Color Photography, wildlife
Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Silver Spotted Skipper 61520a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The widening solar arc will soon reach zenith marking a change in seasons. The days of the full sun are at hand. The tiny Skipper butterfly rests easy in the shade as the sunbeam steadily ebbs closer. Like the ticking of a clock light flows through the porus canopy until it caresses the tiny wings. In response the wings slowly begain to pump distributing life giving warmth throughout the tiny body. The little Skipper suddenly explodes into the air flashing it colors as your flies. Then as I look around my forest I see them all as they wake from their slumber.

Image Titled “Skippers and Hydrangea 61520a”

They all go to work without any delay. The wild hydrangea has finally bloomed and it’s their task to sip the nectar and spread the pollen.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Today’s Quiet Moment On Peter’s Creek

Color Photography, wildlife
Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Tiger Swallowtail 6220” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The gentle guitar softly emanates from the speakers in the Big Blue Truck. The birds seem to respond in chorus to the melody. Small insects float through the sunbeams that filter through the canopy and effect gives them the appearance of living sparks of light. Small flickers of movement in the underbrush tells me that the chipmunk is foraging in the leaves for the little red mock strawberries that dominate the forest edge right now. The bright yellow wings seem to float in on one of sunbeams and land in the sweetbriar looking for a remanent bloom. The butterfly diligently surveyed each branch before a flutter of wings lifts it into the air again. The lull in the bloom means that it will need to work a little harder to feed itself for now but soon the hydrangea will be plentiful and life will be easy again. The beauty of natural cycles means that the difficult times are temporary.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The 17 Year Brood

Color Photography, wildlife
Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled Cicada 61120a. The photos in this post were taken specifically for this post and not really the kind of photos I expect people to hang as decor. However, if someone is interested in licensing them as illustrations or using them in an educational situation then click on the image and it will take you to my contact page.

The late afternoon sun burns brightly in the southern sky as I cross the mountain and head towards the lake.

It not really I trip I was expecting to make this year but my forest has been strangely silent considering what year it is. I had been expecting a constent droning that would last several months. But the 17 year brood skipped my little area this year.

However, just a 15 minute drive to the lake and the noise is unmistakable.

To put the noise levels in perspective an average conversation will occur at around 60 decibels. A jackhammer produces around 90 decibels. Cicadas ring out at 100 decibels.

Why all the noise? Well in short, they’re love sick. The insects have spent the last 17 years underground tunneling and living on roots but now they are at the end of their lifecycle and ready to make the next generation.

The empty husk of a cicada still clinging to a leaf.

Cicadas spend most of their lives as a burrowing insect with no wings but when they mature they’re driven by instinct to climb to a place where they can shed their shells and spread their newly formed wings. What’s left behind is the old exoskeleton. Insect exoskeletons are made of a substance called chitin. Chitin is a chain of complex sugars that form fibers that are actually suitable for making paper believe it or not. The process is similar to making paper from wood pulp ( which is also a complex sugar ).

Image Titled “Cicada 61120b”

Cicada wings, as it turns out, are pretty special. Some species have wings that are able to repel water so efficiently that their being studied in hopes of developing airplane wings that reject ice forming on them and glass that can’t fog up. Cicada wings are also the source of that incredible noise. They rub their wings together along with a special organ called a tymbal that makes clicking noises.

Image Titled “Cicada 61120c”

It’s the male of course that’s the noisy one. He’s just using his outside voice trying to get a lady’s attention.

Image Titled “Cicadas Together 61120”

When they’re ready to lay their eggs the female cicadas will rip open the bark of a tree and lay her eggs there. The damage done by them can kill a tree.

This invasion will probably be over in about another month or so. The adult cicadas will actually be a boom for carnivores. If you’re a fisherman then you know how much the fish love cicadas so don’t waste the opportunity. It will be another 17 years before they come out again.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤