Bug Photobombs

When I look at macro shots on my computer monitor I sometimes find bugs I didn't know were there.

Here I was shooting spent lovage flowers.

Kangaroo Parts

I often focus on specific body parts for something different and to maybe see something interesting.

 

Kangaroos seems to have three toes, and the middle one is quite long.

I didn't hold the camera level for this picture, so I rotated it a bit. This counts for a tail.

Adrienne's Run

After my cheetah run failure last time, I was determined to get some good shots. July 10 began with failure. Last time, a cheetah was introduced and a keeper explained its adaptations for hunting. Then the cheetah ran the course. This time, I was ready to write the name of the demo cheetah when Bob came shooting around the course while I stood with a notebook and a pen in my hands with the camera dangling.

If you like flipbooks like I do, have at it!

Fortunately, this was a twofer and I was ready when Adrienne chased the lure. My preferred spot was not accessible but I was able to stand near it. The course is U-shaped.

Here, she's outward bound.

She begins the turn and kicks up some dust. She also kicked up some grass that's visible against the background rocks in pics 8, 9, and 10.

As Adrienne continues chasing, she wipes out, recovers, and continues home.

Siblings Bob and Adrienne are notable because they are the first cheetahs to be born thanks to in vitro fertilization, and with a surrogate mom.

Recent Insects

Thanks to the Missing Gardener, there are insects around the house. Most are on butterfly weed, and the last two are on lovage. The honey bees offer excellent flipbook action.

sweat bee

bumble bee

honey bee

leafcutter bee

ladybug

Unknown. Possibly a "plant bug."

Columbus June 26

Here are some shots from the same day as the cheetah run that I missed.

The cheetah. She didn't want to give up the lure.

Each of the African lion ladies had a bone.

common ostrich

Aurora, looking like she's asleep.

I'm trying to figure out if reindeer have black skin or their undercoat is black. She's lying in front of a fan.

Wood thrush. It/they (I don't know how many there are in the aviary) sometimes land close to people.

A masked bobwhite calling. It's subspecies of bobwhite quail.