A horse is a horse of course of course

[Solly Mack]

Unless it is a horsefly.

Male Giant Horsefly (Males have eyes that are almost touching. Females are more separated.)










To forget about the horsefly...

Male Juvenile Ruby Throated Hummingbird. (his gorget is now forming)







Same juvenile male with beginning gorget not showing. The gorget will come in full and turn ruby red while he winters.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I really enjoy your photos, my dear Solly!

Detailed, sharp focus and great colors make for fantastic photos!

[Solly Mack]

4. You're very kind, CaliforniaPeggy. Thank you!

[Diamond_Dog]

2. Those are great photos!

I love the last one especially!

[Solly Mack]

5. Thanks, Diamond_Dog.

[2naSalit]

3. I love the...

Hummingbird photos! Especially the last one, that is a very good catch!

[Solly Mack]

6. Thanks, 2naSalit.

What? No love for the horsefly?

[2naSalit]

7. Well...

The quality of the pictures is good. The rest was cringe worthy.

[Solly Mack]

8. lolol! Poor thing was being heavily eyed by four lizards. He finally flew off and the lizards went back to looking for

food.

[ShazzieB]

9. What a cute little hummer!

Last edited Fri Jul 19, 2024, 01:26 PM - Edit history (1)

I love those pics, especially the ones where you can see that tiny cluster of red feathers sprouting. (I did not know that patch of red feathers was called a gorget, btw. I learn something new everyday here at DU! )

The horse fly pics were excellent, too, but I prefer to focus on the bird (no pun intended). I appreciate the skill and artistry that goes into insect photos, but I just don't find some of them them that enjoyable to look at. I loved insects and was fascinated with all of them as a kid, but as an adult, certain kinds squick me out just a tiny bit.

The weird thing is, I don't mind spiders at all, and I love snakes - 2 things that creep out a lot of people. Go figure!

[Solly Mack]

10. I like spiders and snakes too. Some insects are beautiful, and some are less so - yucky looking even

but for me, they are all fascinating. Flies benefit nature and that's a selling point in their favor, but I still don't want them in my house. I do, however, enjoy watching all critters.

Some flies are actually pretty. Probably goes with the role that particular fly plays in nature. I'll have to look that up.

Thanks!

Hummingbirds are beautiful and vicious. I've seen males rolling on the grass locked in battle. These teeny tiny birds flapping and flipping across my lawn, going round and round fighting for dominance. I was yelling, "Stop that!". They didn't stop until one got enough space to fly away. They can get very territorial over food. I have multiple feeders and lots of natural sources of nectar but that doesn't stop the carnage. I love the little things!