We've had a few chance moments of nature study over the last few weeks. I love having the availability of the digital camera because usually the things we find don't stay still long enough for us to sketch them. Also, those of us with less than wonderful art skills really appreciate not having to humiliate ourselves...
One night, a tree frog paid us a visit. We had to take this picture. He was adorable. What was even more interesting was watching him catch his dinner and then watching him eat it!
Here, we thought we had the privilege of seeing a Peregrine Falcon's nest, but rather, it was a Mockingbird's nest with a Peregrine Falcon raiding the eggs! We were able to capture video of the Mockingbirds attacking the Falcon. It was really amazing. We aren't sure if any of the eggs survived...
A visitor to our home discovered this lovely site! I have never seen these types of snails here...
We just loved the way they were hugging each other! I know nothing about snails. If anyone could identify these for me, I would appreciate it!
Thanks to Mamabear, we now know that these are called "Rosy Wolf Snails." You can read more about them here.
I don't recommend reading about them during lunch...
On Sunday evening, I found this beautiful Luna Moth on our front door. Monday morning, he was sitting on our chair on the front porch. He eventually found his way into our home and his flapping wings were as loud as a bird's! Thankfully, we were able help him back outside without any injury.
We are looking forward to more adventures in our yard this year! Hopefully we may even get in a nature walk or two...
5 comments:
Wow! All of those wonderful things right there in your yard!
I love the big moths...they are all over the ballpark right now.
The snails are beautiful!
Ewwwww. Thanks for the frog pic. I'll have nightmares for weeks :oP
Cool nature study! I think the snails you've got there are the carnivorous variety - they eat other snails. Ewh! They are named the Rosy Wolf Snail. Read more, if you dare! http://www.weichtiere.at/Mollusks/Schnecken/land/euglandina.html
Wait - so, the snails eat other snails??? And I thought they were hugging each other! I was like, "awwwww..." when it's actually, "ewwwww..."
Speaking of nature - did you order Planet Earth? That looked very cool!
Whoa! That is some seriously cool stuff right there! I could have done without the snails. Although they're interesting, they're not as lyrical as the luna moth or as noble as the falcon. Mostly, they're just gross. Pretty much anything that slimes is gross...I wonder why we're so grossed out by slimy things*?
*all of us except 3-9 year old boys, of course.
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