Comet NEOWISE and a Morning Surprise

After two unsuccessful attempts of finding comet NEOWISE, I finally got some photos of it on July 21st.  I delayed posting them in case I got better images in the last 10 days but, alas, I haven't been able to find it again!  

I feel extremely lucky to have found it (I say "found" and not "seen" because I could not see it with the naked eye) since I would have had to wait 6800 years for it to return ...

Here are the images I obtained when standing alone late at night in a nearby parking lot.  (I have labelled the first one to enable the viewer to spot the comet).

Note:  Please enlarge each image by clicking on it.

And then the next morning I was surprised by another exciting sky phenomenon:  a fire rainbow!  

In June of 2018 I did a blog post of a fire rainbow that you may wish to view again for the information on their formation: please click here.

Gypsy Moths

Female and male Gypsy Moths

Some information on these moths: Adult Gypsy moths emerge from their pupae in mid-summer. Female Gypsy moths do not fly although they have wings. Males do fly and can be seen fluttering about during the day searching out females in order to mate.  Neither the males nor the females have active digestive systems and therefore do not eat during their lives as moths. Gypsy moth females lay between 500 to 1,000 eggs that they cover in tan coloured hairs from their bodies.  These eggs hatch in spring into caterpillars.

This is a female Gypsy Moth which has just emerged from its pupa.  The wings need to unfurl.

Here you can see the wings have expanded a little more.

At this stage she begins to rock back and forth and shake her wings.

Now her beautiful, velvety wings are fully extended.

And finally, she folds them down which is her final "pose". It took a lot of energy for her to unfurl these wings and yet, sadly, she will never experience flight.

Here is a newly emerged male.  Check out those amazing antennae!! (Unfortunately I did not witness the early part of the process.)

Here is a female with her egg mass. (This photo was taken years earlier).

A Few Photos of the Maturing Hawks

The young hawks are now flying out of the cemetery and onto the adjacent college campus.  They like to swoop around the buildings. They are still dependent on the parents for food though and return to the "nest" tree where they call out.

This morning I went to see if they were around and only spotted one high in a tree among the branches.  I was rather disappointed that I wouldn't get any good shots and started to leave when I suddenly noticed one on the fence (between the two areas).  I liked the lighting and the background and was able to get pretty near to it for some portraits.  I hope you like them!

(Check out the fly on the hawk's shoulder).

Further update on the Cooper's Hawk family

How's this for a "baby"?!

(This photo was taken this morning.)

A Cooper's hawk goes from hatching to flying in about four weeks and I am astonished with the changes I have witnessed in this short period of time.

I estimate that about 4 1/2 weeks have passed since the four eggs hatched and two days ago I saw one of the "baby" hawks flying.  The nest is in a tall, mature Acacia tree that is one of many trees growing in a row alongside a fence. The young bird flew out of one tree, made a fairly large horizontal arc and landed in another tree about three trees over.   I have seen several other short flights and one was a bit surprising to the hawk as it landed on a window ledge.  After taking several seconds to get its bearings, it turned around and flew off.

They exercise their wings like this one is doing (above) and this activity is called "branching".  They also call out in a similar way to the parents but with softer voices. :-)

Related captions are below each image. (You can click on a photo to enlarge it).  

Taken on July 10th.

Taken on July 13th.  You can see a big change in just three days!

Also taken on July 13th.

Taken on July 15th.

Taken on July 18th.  The bird has taken on a more mature, majestic look to my mind.

Taken on July 19th.

Taken on July 19th.

Taken on July 19th.  

A young hawk is on a branch above the parent who is on the nest.  You can see the comparable sizes!

A few very short videos follow.  In the second to last one you will hear the cries of a parent about to arrive and the subsequent cries and commotion of the young hawks as they realize that food is coming.

For video 1, click here

For video 2, click here

For video 3, click here

For video 4, click here 

More Moths in the Neighbourhood

I never thought that I would find such a variety of moths (with many uncommon ones) in my neighbourhood.

Here are new sightings I have made.  As you can see, moths come in all shapes, colours, and sizes!

Nessus Sphinx Moth, amphion floridensis

Banded Tussock Moth, halysidota tessellaris

Maple Callus Borer, synanthedon acerni

Large Lace-border Moth, scopula limboundata

Grapeleaf skeletonizer, harrisina americana

Squash Vine Borer Moth, melitta curcurbitae

Carrot Seed Moth, sitochroa palealis

Update on the Cooper's Hawk family

My goodness the hawk nestlings are growing very quickly!  I would see those small white heads showing above the nest's edge and assume their body size but - wow - those chicks are big now!

I read that they go from hatching to flying within about 4 weeks.  There are four of them and they are now sitting up on branches and exercising their wings.  Next week I may see their first flights.

Here are some photos and three short videos.  I hope you enjoy them. :-)

Video 1: click here

Video 2: click here

Video 3:  click here