Red Lily Bug

I don’t have too many problems with bugs around here.  I know there are some who snack on my plants – but then the bunnies have a snack once in awhile too.  As I was taking pictures yesterday morning, I noticed a red bug on my lilies.  I zoomed in on it, but didn’t have my glasses on anyway – so didn’t see what I had until I came inside and uploaded what I had taken.  It turns out there were 4 red bugs in the picture and 2 of them were busy trying to make more.  One of them is cropped out of the picture to make the 2 busy ones more visible.

I searched for red bug online and discovered that they were Red Lily Bugs and that I soon would not have any lilies if I didn’t do anything about them.  The advice was to either squish them or put them in warm soapy water.  I wasn’t in the squishing mood, so took out some warm soapy water to put them in.  By then they had gone into hiding, but I managed to find a couple of dozen of them along with several eggs.  The eggs are soft and just bush off without too much problem, but I had to catch the adult ones one by one.

I’ll have to check the plants daily to make sure they don’t do more damage.  I’m sure I missed a few of them.

Red Lily Bugs May 15

When I was catching bugs, I found a few who were busy like these 2 are.  I hope I didn’t leave any eggs to hatch because the larva are really disgusting looking and those are the ones who eat the lilies.  I’ve had these lilies for many years and would hate to loose them to a new bug on the block.

Here is the webpage where I found the info on these little guys.

So far on Africam today, we have seen Elephants, Leopard and Saddle-bill Stork.  Of course, the day has barely started as I am typing this.  Click here to see all of today’s pictures.

Africam

You may have noticed that I list the sightings at  Africam each day.    Now that the sightings around my home have pretty much disappeared, I will be posting some of the pictures from there as well as from the polar bear cam in Churchill.

This morning the temperature here is -8C with a windchill that feels like -15C.  We are supposed to have scattered flurries all day today.

On Africam today, so far we have seen Leopard, Hippo, Elephants (playing in the new dirt at NK) Zebra, Warthog (with 3 tiny babies), Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Scrub Hare, Impala, Spotted Eagle Owl chicks (almost ready to leave on their own now), Giraffe, some unidentified swallows, Waterbuck and Kudus.

This Polar Bear picture was taken from the highlights of the polar bear cam, as I am waiting for the sun to come up in Churchill.  After Chester and I walk, I should be able to watch it live.

Polar Bear

Here is one of the many pictures of the elephants playing at NK – picture Posted by Thumper.

Elephants at NK Nov 16

In case I hadn’t mentioned it before I will be spending 3 nights at Nkorho next year. 

Next is one of the pictures of the Warthog with her 3 tiny babies at Nkorho.  Picture posted by Penny2

Warthogs Nov 16 at NK

And here is one of the Leopard pictures posted.  Krukab posted this one.

Leopard at EP Nov 16

Bathing Ducks

I did not even check the temperature this morning when Chester and I went on our walk.  I didn’t even check it when we got home and now around noon it is 27C with a predicted high of 33C and possible thunderstorms to follow.  It was very pleasant for our morning walk, so I am guessing it was about 20C under a sunny sky with just a slight breeze.  We saw a Mallard Duck family having their morning bath and a sparrow that I think is a Savannah Sparrow – but these little guys are so hard to know for sure.

I didn’t get any more done on my livingroom yesterday and I’ve heard that the Assiniboine Park Zoo now has a butterfly garden, so I expect one of my next weekend days will be spent there.  They also have a new bird flight show that I will have to take in.  I’ll make sure I have my camera batteries all charged up for those 2 new features. 

Mallards Bathing July 16

Mallards Bathing July 16

Mallards Bathing July 16

The ducks seems to be enjoying themselves and paid no attention to Chester and I standing there watching them.

Savannah Sparros July 16

I’m not 100% sure of any of my sparrow IDs, but I think that might be what this guy is.

After my exercise class today, followed by the big breakfast at The Red Top, I came home to water my flowers.  I felt like a bad flower mom when I saw how wilted the poor little things were.  I seldom come or go from the front door and hadn’t realized how dry everything was.  My impatience are what I see when I go out to get the mail and for some reason they were looking very good.  But everything is watered now and hopefully they will recover from my neglect.

Today on Africam, we have seen Rhinos, Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Nyala, Waterbuck and more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Heat Wave

We had a few cooler days so my air conditioner got a rest, but its back on now.  Last night it only dropped to 19C, and today it is going up to 28C with the next few days over 30C.

I dropped the car off for some servicing this morning.  Chester came along with me and we had our walk along the Red River to get back home again.  Today we saw the youngest Wood Duck family and a Goldfinch (who kept just far enough away all the time that I couldn’t get a completely in focus picture of him.  It was drizzling a little bit of rain when we walked, so that may have contributed to the picture quality too.

Wood Ducks July 15

Goldfinch July 15

Goldfinch July 15

Goldfinch July 15

I’m getting excited now.  After several weeks of moving and attempting to move furniture, I almost have my living room the way I want it.  Basically, there is one corner left to go – but that is the corner where stuff has accumulated over the years and over the last few weeks of moving things.  Now, its really time to decide what is going to freecycle and what is going in the garbage.  Once that stuff is moved, Jewel’s cage will move over a couple of feet and I can bring the bookcase (and all the books) back into the room.

Barry has ID’d the woodpecker from yesterday as a Downy Woodpecker and the bird in front as a Robin.

On Africam today, we have seen Elephants, Zebras, Warthogs, Kudu and more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

This and That

It was 14C this morning when Chester and I went for our walk along the Red River.  The sky to the east was a friendly blue and the sky to the west was threatening.  I didn’t think I saw any birds until I looked at one of the pictures I took and I didn’t see any beavers (even in my pictures).

Sky to the East July 11

Sky to the West July 11

Since the sun is coming up in the East (obviously), the sun shining on the dark clouds to the West brighten it up quite a bit.

A rower was going past my big tree just as I took this picture (the water is still very high) and when I looked at the picture, I saw several Canada Geese along the riverbank too.

Tree, Rower and Geese

July 11 Lilies

Back in the yard, we have the last of the lilies and a bunny in hiding.

July 11 Bunny

On Africam today, we have seen Elephants, Giraffes, Hippo, Baboons, Waterbuck, Nyala, Impala and more  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Back to Normal (whatever that is)

I did not even check the temperature when Chester and I took our walk along the Red River this morning.  Now (around noon) it is 21C with 94% humidity and drizzling.  It was drizzling when we walked too.   It is supposed to get up to 25C by this afternoon.

We couldn’t find any beavers today, but did find one small Wood Duck family.  It was just the mom and 2 almost grown babies.

Wood Ducks

No relaxing for mom as she stands guard.

When heading out for breakfast after my workout at the Y, a large truck in front of me suddenly slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching halt in the middle of the road.  I couldn’t see in front of it, so I slammed on my brakes too.  Just then we could see a Mallard Duck and her tiny babies crossing the road and heading for the river.  That truck would have killed the whole family if the driver hadn’t done that.  The family had to get across the other direction too, but the first car coming towards them also braked quickly and I saw them all scramble up the curb on the river side of the street. 

Yesterday, I was playing with the settings on my camera and found a sketch mode.  Of course I had to try that out and took a couple of pictures of Chester in the yard.

Chester July 8 sketch

Chester July 8 sketch

On Africam today, we have seen Giraffe, Wildebeest, Duiker, Baboons, Zebra, Elephants and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

I Found Ducks

It was 19C with the humidity at 83% and a bright sunny sky as Chester and I took our walk along the Red River this morning.  No sign of our beaver, but I did find a couple of Wood Duck families.  I’m guessing that the mother duck was mother to both the clutches – her original older clutch and the newer babies that she was sitting with.  The older ones were very close – just sitting on the next log.

Wood Ducks July 7

Those are the older babies above and just below here is the mom and her newest babies (who are growing quickly).

Wood Ducks July 7

Looking at the second picture, I can see an alligator coming up towards the ducks   right in the center.

I came home from work yesterday to find a Purolator missed delivery notice in my mailbox.  This was addressed to someone that I don’t know – have never even seen a name like hers before or to me, with my last name spelled incorrectly.  I suppose her name may be spelled incorrectly as well – LOL.   It says it is a box, so I am very curious as to what it might be.  I can pick it up this morning, so I will probably do that.  When I used to write for BellaOnline, I used to get books delivered here for review, but deliveries these days are pretty much non existent.  I’ll keep you posted on it 

On Africam today, we have seen Waterbuck, Nyala, Impala, Warthogs, Elephants, Giraffe, Zebra, Cape Buffalo, Bushbuck and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Goosey Day

It was 22C already this morning when Chester and I walked along the Red River.  They are still saying 33C – followed by thunder showers tonight.  It has gone for long enough without rain now (finally) for the ground to actually dry out, so some rain would be appreciated.

Today, we saw 2 Canada Goose families and I also took a closer picture of the pile of sticks that may (or may not) be the beaver’s lodge.

Beaver Lodge?

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

On Africam today we have seen Elephant, Duiker, Vervet Monkey, Impala, Squirrel, Zebra and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Return of the Beaver

It was partly cloudy and 17C when Chester and I took our walk along the Red River this morning.  They say it will get up to 28C this afternoon and 33C tomorrow.  I may have to turn on the air conditioner. 

At first it seemed like Chester and I were the only critters around this morning.  I was almost at the bush area when I saw our beaver swimming past and he turned in towards the same area where his disastrous lodge had been.  Then I took a closer look around and although I couldn’t find him in there, I did find another pile of sticks.  I can’t be sure if that pile had been there earlier or if he has maybe been building right on land all along.  Maybe this pile has nothing to do with him, but he was definitely swimming directly into this area again.  When I get a chance, I will go over some of my older pictures of the area to check them in case this spot is shown in them.

Beaver June 29

Beaver June 29

Beaver Lodge Jun 29

In the Beaver Lodge picture, you can see the remains of the original lodge on the right and the pile of branches on the left that may be his new lodge.   Those branches may have been put there by the river when it was higher, so I really don’t know.

Just as we were about to leave the river to head back, I saw a Mallard Duck with her very young family.  There appear to be 11 babies in this family.

Mallard Ducks Jun 29

Checking out my yard, I see my lilies are starting to open their flowers and my mock orange is also now flowering.

Lily Jun29

Lily Jun29

Mock Orange June 29

On Africam today, we have seen Cape Buffalo, Elephants, Nyalas, Impalas, Zebras, Hippo, Hyaena and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Ducks and Sparrow

It was cloudy and 15C when Chester and I took our walk along the Red River this morning.   It looks and smells like it will rain soon and the forecast says showers this morning, but clearing later today and are actually talking about temperatures in the high 20′s and up to 30C by Thursday – with rain on Canada Day.

We were greeted by a Song Sparrow at the riverbank this morning.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

A few minutes later, I spied a Wood Duck with her young family close to the shore and trying to keep hidden from us.  She did a pretty good job, but I managed to get some pictures of them anyway.  They aren’t great pictures though.

Wood Ducks

Wood Ducklings

Wood Ducks

On Africam today, we have seen Elephants, Giraffes, Warthogs, Waterbuck, Nyala, Zebras and lots more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.