Madam Ladybug

Madam Ladybug

by | Apr 3, 2010 | Fauna, Spring

The first ladybug of Spring popped into the picture when I stopped along a Cowley County, Kansas country road to photograph henbit.
Pollen Gatherer

Pollen Gatherer

by | Mar 18, 2010 | Fauna, Spring

The sun is warming the new blossoms in our front yard. It’s too pretty to work through spring break so I’m taking a bit of vacation time, studying the first bee to visit. It’s a miraculous event, this parade of emerging new life before us.
Goose Launch

Goose Launch

by | Feb 6, 2010 | Fauna, Winter

Kansas Farm Pond – Moving slowly, I attempted to sneak up on hundreds of buoyant Canada geese this week. A few crunchy steps in the winter grass was enough to put them all to flight. It was a grand sight, full of crazy noise as they spread the alarm.
Massasauga

Massasauga

by | Oct 18, 2009 | Fauna

This massasauga rattlesnake was minding his own business along a country road west of Hamilton, Kansas. I wish I’d annoyed him enough to get him into a coiled, read-to-strike position, but he was just warming up on a long overdue sunny day. I sure wouldn’t...
Banded Garden Spider (Argiope Bruennichi)

Banded Garden Spider (Argiope Bruennichi)

by | Sep 24, 2009 | Fauna

I believe this is a banded garden spider, a member of genus argiope, as is the more common golden garden spider. They both have the trademark Z patterned web decoration. This spider was found, preparing for lunch, along a roadside in west Osage county, Kansas.