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Mstreefrog

@mstreefrog.bsky.social

3.1K followers 3.4K following 2.6K posts

Sandy 💙 in a red county of a blue state. Retired and enjoying hiking, photography, cooking, and crafts. Two 🐈 and a standard 🐩 Planning jaunts around the PNW.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 3h

Thank you, my friend 😊

Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 3h

#WinsomeWednesday
(Why yes, I totally made that up 😁)
#Bugs #Insects #Invertebrates #Macrophotography
📷🌿💚

A European Praying Mantis looks at the camera in a winsome pose, that brings me joy.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 3h

Thank you 😊

Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 4h

American Kestrels, male and female, for today’s
#BirdOfTheDay #Kestrel
📷🪶

A male kestrel has gray edges to its wings and dark spots along its chest. One of the smallest raptors it generally hunts small rodents or insects. Here it is sitting on a metal post at Ridgefield NWR, looking out over the grassy fields.

Here’s a back view of a female kestrel, sitting on a sign at Ridgefield NWR. See the difference in the wing edges (no dark gray) and her chest would be more streaky without black spots.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 18h

Thank you, Marina. I have to admit I’m kind of guessing on the identity of the paper wasp. The mantis was pretty nervous of me until dinner happened along, and then I was quickly forgotten. 😁

Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 19h

I spent some quality time with a European Praying Mantis on the lawn near the garden this afternoon. It was super quick at snatching a paper wasp 🐝 out of the air and then made quick work of eating it.
#MacroPhotography #BugSky #Insects #macro #PNW
📷🐝🌿

This photo shows the head and thorax of a European praying mantis. It is a bright green in color with a bit of red in places. Notable are the large eyes and spiked and grasping forelegs in which it clutches a brown paper wasp.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you 😊 Always looking for recs to add to my Libby holds. 📚

Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you so much 😊 it’s one of my favorites. Thankful for the long lens and teleconverter, my car as a blind, and a screen of cattails that morning.

Reposted by Mstreefrog

Matthew Paulson @matthewpaulson.bsky.social · 1d

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillar - The biggest and probably the prettiest caterpillar I have ever found. The closeup in the 3rd shot reminds me of Bowser from Super Mario. The 4th shot is not mine but shows what the moth looks like. 🦋 #insect

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

😁 Lovely and thank you for the smile, Mira.

Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Oh my, like a Cessna and a 747 😲

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Yes! 🙌🏻

Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks, Alan 😊 getting so close to such beautiful birds always feels magical doesn’t it?

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you for posting this lovely photo Alan. It inspired me to look up the bird as I don’t think we have them here in my area (Northwest USA.) But the references say our trumpeter swans are closely related.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Breakfast for an American Bittern, near the water’s edge yesterday morning. Looks like a bullfrog tadpole was on the menu.
📷🪶🌿
#TongueOutTuesday

If you look closely, you’ll see the bittern has its tongue out in this picture. This area is covered with water from the late fall through spring, but it’s quite dry with just a small stream running through at present.

Bullfrogs are not native to the refuge, so I have to admit that I do rather cheer for the birds keeping their numbers in check.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Oh, wow 🤩 that sounds fantastic! The refuge here in Southwest Washington has had only a couple nesting pairs, in 2020 the first nesting pair in over 100 years… Thought to be partly because of decreased human activity due to Covid.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

❤️ Yesterday I saw them were at a distance, and there was a group calling between the water and a background of trees, which acted like a natural amphitheater magnifying their wonderful sound.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

Sandhill Cranes are among my favorite migratory birds.

#BirdOfTheDay #Migration
📷🪶🏗️😁

Early November of last year. Several Sandhill Cranes were in the water right at the roadside of the driving tour at Ridgefield NWR. They were eating what looked like plant bulbs.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 1d

I’m not sure which cartoon illustrator created this heron… Maybe Dr. Seuss? Known as the sunbather, delta-wing, or flasher posture; along with rapid breathing, called gular fluttering, it’s said to help them cool down on hot days. (Sunny and 53° this AM.)
#Birds #RidgefieldNWR
📷🪶🌿

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you, Mary 😊

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you 😊

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 2d

A velvety bumblebee on a zinnia flower for #MacroMonday and #ColorADay #PinkMon
#BloomScrolling
📷🐝🌸

A black and yellow bumblebee with antennae lowered, on the petals of zinnia blossom in a bright pink color.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 2d

Bringing back the Brown Pelicans, seen earlier this year on the Washington coast for #BirdOfTheDay #SeaBirds

The second photo shows an adult with the white head and a juvenile with the darker head.
📷🪶🌊

A juvenile brown pelican flies just offshore over the waves. It has a long beak with a yellow tip, and long wings in shades of brown and buff. There is blue coloration at the top of the beak near the eyes.

Hear an adult pelican flies above a juvenile pelican for comparison. The top of the head and ‘sideburns’ if you will, are white in color and the back is more of a mottled brown/gray.

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Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 3d

Oof-I do believe you’re correct. 💯 Can’t believe I always have trouble with the two of those birds that I see at the refuge. I heard one calling at the local pond today and had to check the field guide to see which one it was.

Mstreefrog @mstreefrog.bsky.social · 3d

Sorry, my bad - some of your pears looked a little more rounded than I’m used to. But I know the apples and pears you dehydrate will be tasty. 😋

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