Well my Twitter and Facebook buddies have already seen these. I took some shots of a Hummingbird Clearwing moth last weekend. They are the most amazing little creatures! The first time I saw one, I did a double-take because I thought it was a miniature hummingbird.
Isn't nature amazing? I still have not seen a single Monarch butterfly this year, which breaks my heart. Some estimates say the population in eastern Canada has dropped up to 90% this season. This is a tragedy. Here's one story about the sad situtation. I have loved Monarchs since I was a kid, and to think that humans have contributed so largely to their demise is just, well, heartbreaking. I hope they can make a comeback in this area next year. I really miss them.
On another note, the ducklings are HUGE!
I think this one is the only male, which is a good thing because we are very drake-heavy right now!
And there should be three more ducklings hatching in a few weeks. While we were in NYC, Marcia duck went broody. We came back to find her sitting on three eggs. I found her down there the night we returned, and marked the eggs. But I didn't get a chance to discuss it with Gordon, and the next day night, as he was making ice cream, he told me how he hadn't been able to find one of the ducks. Then he saw her on the the nest. AND TOOK AWAY HER EGGS! And used two of them in the ice cream he was making. AAIIIEEEEE!!!
He had just stolen the eggs, so I took the remaining one back to poor Marcia, then the next day gave her two new eggs to incubate. My heartless husband! We'll see if all three hatch or not. She hadn't been sitting long at all, which is why the ice-cream eggs weren't, er, embryos.
And I have to say, the peanut butter/chocolate chip ice cream Gordon made was outstanding!
Have a great weekend. Brian and Gary, if you are reading this, I'm sending you lots of love and good thoughts.
xoxox
Aren't these hummingbird moths beautiful. I see them in the garden, but have never been able to take as good a picture of them as you have.
ReplyDeleteAlain, I have taken many many many BAD photos of them! :)
DeleteI remember my first hummingbird moth...in my excitement all the photos were fuzzy!
ReplyDeleteNeither of us has seen a Monarch this year. It's sad.
Jane x
No Monarchs, so awful. :((
DeleteIt's amazing how fast ducks grow! Interesting moth you showed us.
ReplyDeleteI swear the ducks are taking growth hormones behind my back!
DeleteAmazing, how fast the ducklings grow.
ReplyDeleteAt least they are still making baby sounds! SIgh.
DeleteWell at least the ice cream was good! hahaha. I can not believe how big those ducklings are already....I cannot find the dark headed one now...they all seem alike.
ReplyDeleteLove those moths....great shots.
Oh, that little brown one was out of the photo! I will have to get some pics of her. She is quite striking!
DeleteI love the moth photos. It is so beautiful. I actually did see one monarch this year. It was a fleating moment but wonderful nonetheless. I cannot believe how big your ducks grew in such a short time. Or is it just that the summer flew by like never before?
ReplyDeleteDeb , I think both! :(
DeleteWonderful photos of the moth! I love these guys too. I saw my first monarch yesterday, just one.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you at least saw one!
DeleteThose hummingbird moth pictures are absolutely AMAZING!!!! I see them around here, but they are so fast I can't even see what they look like. Now I know :)
ReplyDeleteThere is one single Monarch butterfly that comes to my backyard every day. It is huge and so very beautiful.
The ducklings are indeed HUGE!!! I hope the stolen egg will end up hatching :)
SO glad you have a Monarch!
DeleteI'm sure we've had less Hummingbird Moths here than usual; in fact I only recall seeing two (usually there are lots). Otherwise butterflies of all-sorts have been abundant.
ReplyDeleteTHat's good to hear!
DeleteGordon, how could you...
ReplyDeleteI know!! Heartless!!!
DeleteAbsolutely. The first one I saw years ago in my wildflower garden I was sure was a hummingbird. As to the monarchs there have been a few gathering the last few weeks but not many all summer. No chance of seeing thousands like I did last year on the "butterfly tree." :)
ReplyDeleteLast year was an amazing butterfly year here. Makes this summer seem oh-so-much sparser. :(
DeleteAyeeeeeee! Duck eggs in the ice cream. I don't know how I could be surrounded by that cuteness and then enjoy that ice cream... (But I'm a carnivorous hypocrite.)
ReplyDeleteThe moth photos are absolutely breathtaking. Well, the photos AND the moth. Just incredible.
Oh that ice cream was SO GOOD!!! And glad you liked the moth!
DeleteBeing a knitter with a large yarn stash changes your perspectives on moths! I like them - but I don't want them anywhere near my house! Those ones are pretty cool though.
ReplyDeleteMoths can be so destructive! I battle wax moths, too. UGH!
DeleteI know that is so very sad about the Monarchs .
ReplyDeleteOur butterfly bushes were actually full of them last year , I truthfully saw one this years and very few other types as well. Honey bees were scarce too, but he bumble bees are in full swing.
Lovely Hummingbird moth photos.
I so miss our Muscovy duck.
Happy weekend to you.
So sad to see the dearth of pollinators but I'm glad you have some bumblebees. We did seem to have quite a lot of those this year!
DeleteBeautiful pictures. I've never seen a hummingbird moth in real life. They are definitely unusual. And yes, nature is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ducks and ducklings, they certainly grew fast. I felt bad that Gordon stole Marcia duck's eggs to make ice-cream... but if he had to make ice-cream, peanut butter/chocolate chip sounds fantastic!
THey are really cool and fly just like a hummingbird. Amazing creatures!
DeletePoor Marcia... she should be hatching out her three babies soon.
Beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Thank you Elna!
DeleteHaving just moved to North Carolina, I can tell you the Monarchs are there and plentiful! However, I'd give anything to see one of these Moths up close. And, seeing your ducklings made me long for our pond in Connecticut where I'd watch ours be born and grow up. Your photos are the next best thing, thank you, XOXO
ReplyDeleteSO glad you like them. I'll trade you some moths for some Monarchs!
DeleteStunning hummingbird/butterfly photography and THANKS for your sweet wishes!
ReplyDeleteANd thank YOU!
DeleteSuper duper pictures of the clearwing moth. Such an amazing little guy - part bird, part moth it seems. I never realized that their wings are like framed windows. When I see the moths, usually their wings are beating so fast they are a blur. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteAren't their wings groovy? Little windows!
DeleteBeutiful pictures on the Hummingbird Clearwing moth !
ReplyDeleteDon´t think we have them in Sweden ??
The Duckies sure have become BIG !
My babies are all grown up! ANd aren't those moths cool?
DeleteHummingbird Clearwing Moth...I'd never heard of it. GOOD EYE, Lady! The pictures are terrific!
ReplyDeleteTHanks so much! You need to use a really fast shutter speed and crawl around on your knees a lot, and take a couple of hundred shot to get a handful of good ones! :)
DeleteI think I need a better camera than my pocket digital. I haven`t seen a monarch this year either. I saw my first h. moth last night.
ReplyDelete