Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1318

Abstract

s flying in hot, just a few feet away as they came in just above my head. Sixty pounds or more of pissed-off geese flying almost right at you is something that will make you stop dead in your tracks.I moved away from the nest, went inside, but came back out a few minutes later. I kept at a more comfortable distance for all, and using a long-lens on a more traditional DSLR camera, saw her examining the nest, adding more pinfeathers, making adjustments, and finally, sitting and settling in.<figure id="e829"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*uPrw0n6IJ2xAI3QBWxDSFw.jpeg"><figcaption>Look closely for pin feathers in her beak</figcaption></figure>I have seen very few bees, but the few I have seen are likely queens since they emerge first after wintering-over. But these paper wasps have been busy working a piece of untreated wood on my grape arbor.First, they scrape away wood fibers.<figure id="0028"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*Q7cJ4_u0_Jkb32OD8_AdfA.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>Then they need to collect it up in a way they can take back to the nest.<figure id="cd97"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*i1VCyDQtjZZ_0x4ZjVFgSg.

Options

jpeg"><figcaption>This series is in order starting top left to bottom right and covers about 30 secs.</figcaption></figure><figure id="c44b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*kOaNEdImNeNvTG1JDQx25w.jpeg"><figcaption>The brighter less-gray area are where wood has been scraped away.</figcaption></figure>Growth is advancing slowly in the grapevine as resources are being used to develop the flower buds.<figure id="1e9e"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*GxxWzGnw1xAFwEfc4JcRzQ.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>And one more for scale.<figure id="f7e2"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*9e0WKMccFdPqPPUmHvI5Bw.jpeg"><figcaption>The head of the fly is over the developing grape flower cluster.</figcaption></figure>Even weeds can be interesting.<figure id="a106"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*EYbDqEpznGtUec1YnhXXng.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="c33a"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*lKuwxDsM6SsBjfZFD3TqBg.jpeg"><figcaption>L—No idea what it is. These are new. R—Looks like some kind of thistle.</figcaption></figure>That’s it for this week.</article></body>

This Week in My Viewfinder

April 18–24, 2021

Text and photos by LensAfield

I went to work on Sunday afternoon expecting to find eggs in the goose nest based on mating activity I heard (quite vocal!) on the previous Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, but wasn’t in a position to see. I only saw them preening their disheveled feathers afterward.

She wasn’t on the nest when I arrived. I could see immediately that somewhere between Thursday night and this Sunday afternoon that the nest had been lined wth her pin feathers. Eggs usually begin arriving immediately thereafter.

Moving in quickly, I immediately saw one egg and after an extra second of searching, saw another partially exposed under the blanket of insulating fluff. It is possible there could have been a third, but I couldn’t see it.

I snapped a couple of quick iPhone shots. I turned just in time to see the parents flying in hot, just a few feet away as they came in just above my head. Sixty pounds or more of pissed-off geese flying almost right at you is something that will make you stop dead in your tracks.

I moved away from the nest, went inside, but came back out a few minutes later. I kept at a more comfortable distance for all, and using a long-lens on a more traditional DSLR camera, saw her examining the nest, adding more pinfeathers, making adjustments, and finally, sitting and settling in.

Look closely for pin feathers in her beak

I have seen very few bees, but the few I have seen are likely queens since they emerge first after wintering-over. But these paper wasps have been busy working a piece of untreated wood on my grape arbor.

First, they scrape away wood fibers.

Then they need to collect it up in a way they can take back to the nest.

This series is in order starting top left to bottom right and covers about 30 secs.

The brighter less-gray area are where wood has been scraped away.

Growth is advancing slowly in the grapevine as resources are being used to develop the flower buds.

And one more for scale.

The head of the fly is over the developing grape flower cluster.

Even weeds can be interesting.

L—No idea what it is. These are new. R—Looks like some kind of thistle.

That’s it for this week.