Thursday, July 3, 2008

Oh, my!


I head out to our trails after work each day.
Their winding takes me past woods, field and water—an escape into what often is peace and solitude.

But, in the thickness of summer, a lively hunting ground.
Where predators lurk as I pass.
And I’m thankful for my tall stature.


The gum grove holds a special treasure.
Here, in its star-shaped leaves, I found a wheel bug last year--his slow-moving steel gray form almost mechanical, as he stalked beetles.


This year, there will be many more.
From between the bright leaves, they watch me.


Late instars of the next generation. Peering down long faces with the same piercing, sucking mouthparts.
Stepping slowly forward on long, bent legs.
To see who walks beneath the gum tree.


In the field, a large jumping spider has caught a distracted cicada. Dropping from the small branch on his silk tether, to hide with his find in the tall grass.


Hoping I will not see where he has gone.
With eight shiny black eyes he watches.
Furry palps holding his very large dinner.

And at the pond’s edge, the most graceful amberwing,
another ferocious hunter, rests.


Before taking to the skies on wings of glass.


Thanks to Wigger's World for hosting Skywatch Friday each week at his site!

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34 comments:

KGMom said...

Nina--how DO you see these small delightful creatures of the woods and fields. I find my eyesight not nearly sharp enough to catch such details.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I'm afraid I would have missed all but the amberwing. I'm glad you're here to cath the details for us.

Anonymous said...

so many wonderful photos and love your spider eating the cicada

Pat - Arkansas said...

"Furry palps..." I truly admire your way with words. Wonderful photos. It's always a pleasure to journey with you on your walks. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

It is well known that we Portuguese once sailed the seven seas searching for new lands, wealth and adventures.
We were brave in those days and gave the world new worlds!

Luckily I don’t have to sail the big oceans on a small ship to sea the wonders of our world …
No Sir, I just need to check with Mr. Tom, the finest host there is, for a trip around the world with SKY WATCH TOURS and with a click here, a click there I am quickly in the USA, England, Brazil, Italy, China, Australia, Finland … well, everywhere.

And on each stop I come to see a little marvel of our world under a great sky!
Hope you can come and see my piece of the sky at lenses & visions

Unknown said...

Great capture of the bugs!
My Sky Watch Friday posts

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

NR: Very nice how the leaves give a special look to the Sky.

Anonymous said...

I think this is going to be the best Sky Watch Friday yet. The things I have seen are very encouraging and the photography is spot on.

I really admire your photography skills and your critical eye for composition, lighting and texture.

Abraham Lincoln
—Brookville Daily Photo

SandyCarlson said...

Nina,
Thanks for bringing us in close on the wonders of your trails.

Tom said...

Just a quick visit to say thank you for joining in with Sky Watch.


Excellent post Nina.. I will come back later to study these creatures more.

NCmountainwoman said...

Oh that unfortunate cicada. Imagine...waiting 17 years to come into the light and a spider snatches your life in a nano-second. Great photographs.

~Molly~ said...

That's one biiiig spider!!! Very lovely photos, even if they are of voracious carnivores doing their thing.

Molly

Carletta said...

I like the light filtering in from the sky and your commentary taking us along on the journey to what lies beneath!
Great post.

Anonymous said...

The text here is wonderfully evocative: I feel as though I am crunching through the undergrowth with you. I admire your Attenborough style and like the ambience of the sun filtered through leaves.

Engrossing post ...

Petunia said...

Very nice picture:) The leaf and the sky is so perfect together!

Petunia's SWF

Anonymous said...

:) Those are some great shot! Have a great weekend!

bobbie said...

Your first picture of the leaves against the sky is superb. And the precious dragonfly is so beautiful.

AnneKa said...

Great sky watch and have a nice weekend!!!!!!!!

Champ Townboy said...

Awesome Sky Watch!! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Love this!!

Country Girl said...

Great post, Nina! Glad I stopped by to see your peaceful pics.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Beautiful photos shots

EG CameraGirl said...

Nina,
I love seeing the world through your camera lens.

Anonymous said...

Nina, first time I'm visiting and I love your blog. I'm a nature girl myself and love being outside. I'm in Connecticut though, lived a while in Ohio, loved it there. Your pictures are great, I'll be back to visit and see updates!

Happy sky watch to you.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Be careful out there Nina, its a jungle. Every bug for himself. ;)

Raven said...

Thanks for taking me on your walk. From the sky through the leaves to the beautiful dragonfly at the end.

Unknown said...

Great tour. I love the transluscent leaves in the first photo and the interesting journey that followed - always a joy to read your words whilst viewing your photo's. Thank you.

Gary
Bodge's Bulletin

Unknown said...

Joyous. I enjoyed this post immensely, a pleasure as always. Kev

cestoady said...

Wonderful post !!! Makes me dream that if I was a bug I would have ---the eyes of the jumping spider --- the fierce look of the wheel bug -- and --wings of amber glass -- and then I would be king of the jungle.

Texas Travelers said...

Great post and photos.
Thanks for sharing.
Two of my very favorites, dragonflies and spiders.

Great shot of the cicada.
(too bad for him though)

Come visit,
Troy and Martha

Reader Wil said...

Your blog reads like a novel. You describe every detail so well and with the beautiful photos it's so pleasant to be here.

Anonymous said...

Bloody Cicadas! God they can be annoying and boy are they uuuugly. But an important part of the ecosystem. Have you seen that scene on Planet Earth of all the cicadas.

Anonymous said...

Bloody Cicadas! God they can be annoying and boy are they uuuugly. But an important part of the ecosystem. Have you seen that scene on Planet Earth of all the cicadas.

Naturegirl said...

Through the eye of your camera you show us these little wonders of Nature that most don't even notice!
thank you I loved this SWF post!