HSS

Tags:   Crystal Lake HSS Illinois Sliders Sunday Spring Spring blossoms Super Takumar 55mm f/1.8 Veteran Acres Park fence footbridge grasses lake painterly trees water

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...sent back to the dice factory for warranty replacement

Smile On Saturday: "Dice in B&W" theme

HSoS

Tags:   Crystal Lake Dice in B&W Illinois OM 12-40mm f/2.8 II Smile On Saturday black and white defective dice distorted floating humor monotone square

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The Anhinga is a water bird whose range includes much of South America, Central America and southeastern portions of of the U.S. The Anhinga name comes from the Brazilian Tupi language, and means "devil bird,” "snake bird” or “evil spirit of the woods.” The origin of the name is apparent when one sees the bird swim. Only its long neck and head appear above water, so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.

Looking Close on Friday: "Black in Black & White" theme

HLCoF

Tags:   Anhinga Anhinga anhinga Black & White Black in Black & White Everglades National Park Florida Shark Valley Visitor Center Tamron 150-600mm beak bird black bokeh feathers monochrome nature portraits waterbirds wildlife Sunrays5+

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These two male Baltimore Orioles had been "duking it out," so to speak, engaging in conflict that at one point had them seemingly locked together as they went spinning together to the ground. It happened so quickly that I missed getting a shot of it, unfortunately.

But I kind of liked this shot as they appeared to face off before another round. Males of this species are known to aggressively defend their territories during breeding season, so I assume that's what was going on. I'm not sure which one was the interloper.

Tags:   Baltimore Orioles Boone Creek Conservation Area Bull Valley Icterus galbula Illinois M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5-6.3 + MC-20 bark birds branch square wildlife Sunrays+5

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It's a male Eastern Forktail damselfly. This species takes its name from the tiny forked projections found on the tip of the tail of the male, though you can barely see them here. The length of the body on these insects varies from 0.8 to 1.3 inches. Damselflies, like cockroaches, are one of the oldest insect groups. During prehistoric times, they were supposedly as big as hawks.

Tags:   Bokeh Wednesday Eastern Forktail HBM HWW Ischnura verticalis Macro McHenry County OM 90mm F3.5 Macro Stickney Run Conservation Area Wing Wednesday bokeh damselfly insect leaf male square wildlife

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