Beautiful Animals

I had some bugs on my swiss chard that were so beautiful/colorful I had no wish to get rid of them, unusual for me. Wish I took a picture, since I've never found the equivalent in my looking online.

Shield Bug from the garden thisavo...

bizzy buzzer

Hover

Itsy bitsy



<blech>

Gasteracantha fornicata from our backyard

Barry, I'm stunned that the Taliban kept a dog as a prisoner of war. Glad Fitas is more or less ok. He's got a great face.

dj, Thanks for all those northern shots. I love dem water fowl. Mallards maybe? The deer picture is a charmer. Not exactly wildlife, but close enough. The chipmunk is majorly cute. The frog has beautiful markings. Don't remember seeing a frog that looks like that before. Must be a strictly Canadian amphibian. The bunny looks unhappy. Of course I could be projecting. The otters are wonderful. It wouldn't suprise me if those friendly ducks were looking for a handout. Did you bring them a snack? No comment on the bug on the car. I wonder what that caterpillar is going to metamorphose into. Cute little fuzzy guy. Impressed with the cranes. Never saw one just wandering around. Raptors build interesting nests. I'm thinking maybe some kinda hawk. A wild guess.

Izzie, Gorgeous bugs. Wonderful photos. Thanks kid. I'm surprised you included a spider. You're a brave soul. I like arachnids. What can I tell ya?

HH, That spider's in your backyard? Wow. Does it help you keep the insect population under control? The feline is a stunner.

Another animal gets the camera. I'm starting to notice a theme.

@Roberta
They are a pretty small spider - the first one that Captain Cook's expedition grabbed from Australia in 1770 - I'd never seen them before moving here weirdass looking things.

Hedgehogs are just so goldarn cute.

Hey Boida - the bugs here are pretty tiny (except spiders but even they're comparatively tiny considering the rest of the worlds <looks big to me tho> ) - shield bug and spider are between 5-7mm at most - so I can cope with that. I did shoot the big ass spider - but... can't call it up at the mo.

The bees are a better size to shoot if they would just sit still!

HH - you have spiky ORBS!

And now, my impression of a snowball ... A polar fox kit curls up against the rain at the Berlin Zoo.
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images/sfgate




Po and De De celebrate their first birthday with a "cake," i.e. bamboo frozen in a block of ice, at the Madrid Zoo.
Photo: Dominique Faget / AFP / Getty Images/sfg

the daily B & O

djjd's pix of ducks leaving the water reminded me of this, Boston's tribute to beautiful animals, Boston's "Make Way for Ducklings" statues in the Public Garden, which is the setting for the book--it's a magnet for tourist kids and parents from around the world

This reminds me of a friend driving ahead of me stopping for quail crossing the road, on a rather fast street, though where it had changed to only one lane in each direction. Followed by the rest of us, maybe six cars, stopping.

Looking at the sculpture, which I like a lot, I'm wondering if anybody, anymore, besides slowing, puts their hand out the window with a downward wave to signal stopping?

Sorry, tangent to thread.

Anyway, the sculpture is also fantastic signage.

You looking at me? *Click on photo.

HH, Can't argue with hedgehog cuteness. Well, I could, but I'd be wrong.

osso, Beautiful canid. Don't they let the animals inside when it rains? Dem pandas is mighty cute. HB to them.

dj, I'm glad you've resumed the B&O responsibilities. Tell me that that bunny ain't dead. It's a cutie, dead or alive. The otter looks alive--and adorable.

MJ, Thanks for sharing the statuary with us. Love it. Don't remember seeing that in Boston when I was there. How long has it been there? Do you know?

c.i., Thanks for the roo, still shot and video.

Foodfight! (midair):

Flower beetles? Hold on to your hat, this is a 1-post warning; better study preview: http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/38353/page4/#photo

Warning duly given one post ago.

No warning necessary but thanks anyway. Fascinating story (slideshow) High Seas.

That's not for me .