Peaceful places – Page 41 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

A Red Dragon Encounter

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Ruby Meadowhawk 91320a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Along the gravel berm that lines the single lane road a red dragon stalks the sky. He moves as swift as an arrow snagging his prey from among the reeds and each time returning to his perch on the dry seedhead. His scarlet tones set him apart from anything else above the marsh. And if I am correct, he’s never been documented in this area before. I believe that what I have stumbled upon is a Ruby Meadowhawk.

The Ruby Meadowhawk is new to me. I’ve seen various blue, green and brown dragonflies and damselflies over my life and a few of the red ones in other states. But, this is the first red dragonfly that I’ve encountered in the state of West Virginia. So naturally the first thing I did was a Google Image search to try and find a match. I was presented with 3 possible hits.

The Ruby Meadowhawk, the White Faced Meadowhawk and the Cherry Faced Meadowhawk.

The White Faced Meadowhawk is just what it sounds like. The photos and descriptions online say that the distinguishing characteristic of the White Faced Meadowhawk is a pure white face as compared to the Ruby Meadowhawk which gas a tan face. Likewise, the Cherry Faced Meadowhawk has a face that turns red when mature and seems to be a Western species.

My Meadowhawk has a tan face which is the mark of the Ruby Meadowhawk.

The only Map of species distribution that I could find comes from iNatualist.org and shows a few confirmed sightings in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle and sightings in Morgantown but central and southern West Virginia show no confirmed sightings. The map is updated daily and seems to be current.

So did I find something worthy of a note? I don’t know. Right now all I know is that it seems to something that’s not supposed to be in my area.

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

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.

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Do Moths Sing?

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Inbound Clearwing Moth & Chicory 91320” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

With the sweet scent of the Joe Pye weed filling the air I walked along the single lane road that traverses the marsh. The hum of the Clearwing Moth is heard even over the droning of the grasshoppers. Her daytime flight mimics that of the hummingbird floating effortlessly between the flowers. On closer examination I noticed that she first hovers over the bloom fanning it with her powerful wings and then moving back to the previous one. A few years ago Israeli scientists learned that Flower pedals can actually function as an ear. I’ll let those dedicated to pure science opine about specifics of the process. What I wonder about is what song the flowers hear? Are the pollenators able to tune the flowers to suit their individual tastes? Can they adjust the flavonoids by grooming the the blooms with a specific wavelength of wingbeats? Moths have a highly tuned sense of smell. Perhaps it’s developed enough to detect which flowers are producing what the moth needs. I watched the Clearwing Moth in tonight’s feature image return to this individual flower without feeding several times. Each time it seemed to rise and fall slightly as it changed the frequency of its wingbeats. Each time I could hear a slight variations in pitch and intensity of its hum. Could it be that pollenators are in some way “singing” over the flowers? I don’t know the answer and I’m not really set up to test that theory but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that God in his role as the engineer of life had thought of even this small of a detail.

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

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.

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/

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.

September Gatherings On Muddelty Creek

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Shared Sweetness 90820” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The gentle September sun washes over the marsh as I step out from the big blue truck. The melodic calls of the Red-winged Blackbird are notably absent from the soft breezes. Instead I hear the drone of grasshoppers on the edge of water where they can enjoy the tall grass. The swamp roses have shed their pedals and brilliant red orbs have begun to appear in the thorny branches. The Silky Dogwood now sports blue fruit among the reddish leaves all throughout the water’s edge. But God is not finished with the season of growth yet. Amid the fresh spires of cattails the Joe Pye weed is in full glory. The sweet smell of the bloom brings in the butterflies from all directions. They float in on sunbeams resembling shards of stained glass. The bountiful harvest of sweet nectar is gathered by all without jealousy. The bright yellow Swallowtail and spectacular monarch butterflies seem to enjoy fellowship with Pipevine and Spicebush alike. And deeper into the untamed wilderness I see blues and sulphur butterflies along with painted ladies and skippers. All have come to the delta to partake in celebration of last days of summer.

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

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.

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/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Scattered Memories Of Life In The Barn

black and white photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Barn 90120BW” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

In the depth of my memory my grandfather’s barn is a prominent fixture. I believe that I must have spent as much time in the old one room schoolhouse that became his barn as I did in the woods. That’s the thing about a one lane road lifestyle. We sleep in houses but we live in barns. Our small barn was little more than a place to keep the grain and hay. There was a few scattered antique farm tools and I remember seeing shoes for oxen. After a couple of years of shots to treat my allergies I was able to go into the barn without having an episode. My brother and I would listen to my grandfather’s stories about France in World War Two and go to the old barn with our BB guns and pretend to be pinned down behind enemy lines with the barn as our base of operations and corn cobs for grenades. Later in life the barn was also a makeshift gym where grain sacks became weights and hay bales were punching bags. Of course there was plenty of actual work in the barn and there was days when the dog and I would just sit on a stack of hay bales and think about stuff. That barn had to be torn down years ago but every time I pass a barn it all comes back to me. The sweet smell of fresh grain and hay as well as the feel of well weathered wood will forever return me to childhood.

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

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.

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/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Disturbance Proceeds Renewal

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Dreams In The Meadow 90720” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Late summer mists rise skyward after the rain clears and the big blue truck delivers me to the quiet country road. An old lot once cleared to accommodate parking for heavy equipment is no longer abandoned. Nature in her progression shows the world the folly of the bulldozer for mankind only occupies a season in the age of a mountain. She first sends the herbs to break up the spoil. Hardy and determined they use their roots to till the land and crumble hard earth. She erects a barrier of thorns and pickles to hedge against trespass. Then in that place once dominated by steel the wild things come to play. They frolic among the colorful blooms and draw sweetness where once there was only stone and bare ground. The trees soon return to cover the landscape and their branches shelter even more wildlife as the songs of the finches and cardnials fill the air. The dream of the master architect is soon realized. Not all gardens are arranged in rows and columns. But don’t be fooled. It was part of the plan for man to disturb the old forest with his machines that sweep away bits and pieces of what once was so that room can be made for new. Disturbance proceeds renewal and without it the world would stagnate and die. Yes there are better ways to do it and we have a lot to relearn. But we are part of the cycle and always were.

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

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.

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/

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