Walking – Page 10 – Rae Spencer

Dragonflies

January 23, 2012Rae SpencerLeave a comment

My obsession with dragonflies flared during a particularly perfect summer, when hordes of them settled in the back yard. They fairly swarmed that year, gold and green and blue jewels glittering in the heat. In the seasons since, I’ve learned to call a few by name, though I am hardly a dragonfly expert. A field guide is on my wish list, but until then I’ll do the best I can with my camera and the internet.

Eastern Pondhawk

Halloween Pennant

Eastern Amberwing

Blue Dasher

Once I started noticing them, I found them everywhere. While the above pictures were all taken in my own back yard, the photos below were taken at Norfolk Botanical Garden (top), at First Landing State Park (middle), and near the beach at Sandbridge (bottom).

Eastern Pondhawk

Snow and Northern Cardinals

January 22, 2012Rae SpencerLeave a comment

By this time last year, the mid-Atlantic coast had seen several snows, with more to come. This was my back yard in early February:

By April, spring gripped the area. Snow melted into memory, but the cardinals stayed. I found this lovely fellow on one of my walks at First Landing State Park:

This year, I haven’t seen any snow. I also haven’t seen any cardinals. Perhaps both will make an appearance before spring.

(Ever wonder where Northern Cardinals get their brilliant hues? Check out this article.)

Red-bellied Woodpecker Nest

January 21, 2012Rae Spencer2 Comments

In June of last year, I happened upon a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers toiling to feed their raucous young. The parents visited the nest in turns, each arrival heralded by peals of plaintive screeching from the insatiable nestling. As I watched the parents flit from tree to tree, probing bark with sharp eyes and beaks, I wondered at their dedication. Is it love that moves them to such labor? Or couldn’t it, at least, be called love?