Ahhhh.... Virginia's Wildlife! Paper Wasp On Wild Asters

Polistes bellicosus

Insect Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image is copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Luscious Cascading Red

Reminiscing a lazy hazy day of Summer

with an image of wild red Blackberries

A berry plant native to Virginia that is very wildlife friendly!

Nature Fruit Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

(all my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved)

REACH FOR THE LIGHT

HONEYBEE ON WILD ASTER

Our honeybees are in trouble

Please preserve the native wildflowers of Virginia by integrating them into your flower gardens. Their beauty is amazing!

Let's keep our bees happy and healthy ;0)

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

(image taken in my own backyard - Richmond, Va. - Chesterfield County)

All of my photographs are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Why I Love The Wild Asters Of Virginia

The tiny white flowers are teeming with life.....

a smorgasbord for insects and insect photographers alike!

Aster dumosus - Bushy Aster - a native wildflower - perennial

Nature Wildlife Photography by Carolyn Hietala

Yard Buddy In Camouflage Suit

This is one my Miniature Pinscher's "friends"..... a rather large, brave and admirably tolerant Pickerel Frog.

They used to frolic during the day and frequently at night under the illumination of the porch light..... until recently.

My Min Pin has grown so accustomed to the presence of this amphibian in "his" backyard that he now only greets it with a quick sniff then walks away. No longer do they frolic.

Finally! Thank goodness! Two summers of constant "LEAVE IT" has been enough for me!!!! ;0)

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

This neonate reptile is native to Richmond, Virginia.

Northern Copperhead Snake

Nature Herp Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Speak Not With Forked Tongue

Wisdom In Macro ;0)

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 macro / woodland richmond virginia chesterfield county / neonate northern copperhead baby reptile snake / Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

(this image is copyright protected with all rights reserved)

Surveying new landscape in Chesterfield County

WARNING: This property surveyor can be very dangerous

if disturbed.

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

(click on image to link to more photos of this neonate)

Wild Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Smell The Bokeh

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

Newly relocated this baby Northern Copperhead
is beginning to explore its surroundings.

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / patchy sunlight / cropped image / woodland / richmond virginia / chesterfield county / wild nature /venomous poisonous dangerous reptile neonate snake serpent / forked tongue / depth of field dof

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All images are copyrighted with all rights reserved.

Dazed & Confused..... the window pain strikes again ;0(

A Young Common Yellowthroat

This little bird had been enjoying the ornamental grass seeds in the yard until something possessed it to fly against the windowpane of my house. I rushed outside to see if it was all right and could not find it. Assuming it had flown off unharmed I started indoors and there it was..... next to the front door on the porch. I carefully covered it with a box to give it time to recover.

About a half hour later I checked on it..... still it wouldn't move..... later I once again lifted the box..... it flew into the yard. OK. That's progress. I then fetched my camera and followed it for a few minutes taking pics. Suddenly it flew into the Willow tree, hopped from branch to branch rejoining its bird friends in ravaging the grass seeds once again....... AMAZING! I'd be calling my doctor..... ha.

For quite a while I enjoyed watching it through that very windowpane that had caused its strife. The little critter was busy doing what birds do and acting as if nothing had ever happened to it. WHEW! Thank goodness. It survived an encounter that many birds never do ;0)

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / morning sun / uncropped / backyard nature wildlife / richmond virginia / chesterfield county

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Serpent In Exile

Banished from the yard, this baby Northern Copperhead snake sets out to explore its new abode..... at least a thousand feet from my home ;0)

I stayed until it had disappeared into a new dark place under this fallen Tulip Poplar. There it would be safe from the crying Red-shouldered Hawk and Blue Jays I could hear above us.

Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image is copyrighted with all rights reserved.

The STARE..... if looks could kill

Macro Image Of A Newborn

A Richmond Virginian With ATTITUDE!

The Northern Copperhead snake displays a fearless appearance even though it is normally docile..... unless harassed or threatened. Warning..... it is VENOMOUS despite its quiet nature.

Learn more about this shy reptile at this official Virginia wildlife website:

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/?s=030016

Herpetology - Agkistrodon contortix mokasen

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image is copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Photo was taken in Chesterfield County, Va.

Copperhead Snake Portrait..... A Chesterfield County Resident

Image of a baby Northern Copperhead

Coiled Cutie

Ahhhh..... the innocence of youth!

Docile and shy, this little neonate will struggle to survive in this great big world. Given the importance of biodiversity, I wish it a safe life journey..... in the woods though..... not on my lawn ;0)

ONLY an experienced snake handler that is very familiar with snake behavior (and especially poisonous species) should ever attempt a macro shot..... for obvious reasons. Snakes are notoriously unpredictable subjects.

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / woodland backyard garden / image taken in partial shade / cropped framed / richmond virginia / chesterfield county / Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen / venomous poisonous dangerous reptile / baby northern copperhead

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
All images are copyright protected all rights reserved.

Almost stepped on this BABY COPPERHEAD in my backyard! WARNING! Venomous - Poisonous - Dangerous

Large Acorn & Small Snake

(you may click on images to enlarge)

Macro In The Shade

Shy, Docile & Potentially Lethal!


Baby Copperhead Bokeh


Dangerous Youth..... Northern Copperhead Snake

Baby Northern Copperhead - Dare I call this little critter cute?
I almost stepped on it in the backyard
here in Chesterfield County..... while wearing sandals!

Getting this close to photograph a pit viper is emphatically NOT advocated..... even if it happens to be a juvenile like this one! Note the bright green/yellow tail distinguishing it as a baby.

ONLY an experienced snake handler that is very familiar with snake behavior (and especially poisonous species) should ever attempt a macro shot..... for obvious reasons. Snakes are notoriously unpredictable subjects. See adult Copperhead images I have taken by clicking on the label "snake" in this blog.

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / woodland backyard reptile herp / photos taken in bright sunlight & shade / richmond virginia / chesterfield county / Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

Nature Herpetology Photographs by Carolyn Hietala

All images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

What's eating your GRAPE leaves?

The culprits may be members

of the scarab family.....

like this attractive couple!

(click on image to enlarge)

Backyard Nature Photograph of Grapevine Beetle

Pelidnota punctata was taken by Carolyn Hietala

Robber's Roost

HAPPY house hunting!

Searching for just the right condominium can be a passionate experience..... especially if you're a newlywed ;0)

Robberfly - Diptera - Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Passion Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

ROCKETMAN!

Re-Entering The Earth's Atmosphere.....

The "Burn"

Copyrighted "Alien" Photograph aka Rocket Man ;0)

Image by Carolyn Hietala

Robberfly - Diptera - Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Robbing a little Afternoon Delight!

IT MUST BE LOVE! (quoting words spoken by Kyra Sedgwick from the TV show "The Closer"...... but in the episode it was used to describe a murder though.....hmmmmm... anyway I adore the quote)
Robberflies In A Passionate Love Embrace..... sorry, I couldn't resist adding a bit of "mood" lighting ;0)
Insect Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Robberfly - Diptera - Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Luna Light..... imperfect beauty.

Luna Moth - Evening Rest In Holly Tree

Actias luna?

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Dragonfly On Gravel

Blue & Green Insect Predator

A Frequent Driveway Visitor

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

A recipe for soft iridescent eye candy ;0)

Ingredients to combine.....

1 bright sunny day

1 cherry tree

1 small colorful fly

1 ground covered in dead leaves

1 macro lens

1 camera

1 photographer

1 imagination

1 or more dumb lucks (optional)

Mix well and serve immediately!

Nature Photography & Recipe by Carolyn Hietala

It's Hot, I'm Tired, I'm Hungry..... just leave me be! NOT happy!

Sulking Squirrel

Someone's not in the mood for pictures this day. His time at the bird feeder was abruptly interrupted for a frivolous human pastime..... namely backyard nature photography ;0)
Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County - Oak Tree & Woodland Wildlife

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Dragonfly! Brilliant green & blue Pondhawk specimen.

Need to exercise?

You can surely get a good workout

chasing these guys!

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - ID via bugguide.net

Male Insect Resident of Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Backyard Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

High 90's are expected today in Richmond. Lack of rainfall has my backyard exhibiting colors of Autumn!

Brilliant Oranges Are Dominating

Summer Shades Of Green

We desperately need RAIN here in Richmond, Virginia! Hope you have your rain barrels ready to catch those precious drops of water ;0)

Tree Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Robberfly..... waiting for prey on a cantaloupe leaf.

Robberfly - Hanging Thief

Diogmites neoternatus

(ID via Bugguide.net..... thanks again!)

I hope to get more pictures of these as would love to capture one feeding ;0)

A gray robberfly eating an insect landed on my forearm yesterday and of course my camera was not with me..... bummer! I walked about 50 feet to the porch where I attempted to coax it onto the railing..... then I could go get my rebel..... that's when it flew away ;0(

richmond virginia - chesterfield county

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Leaning Leaffooted Bug on our native Sweet Bay Magnolia Tree.

Leaf-footed Bug

Magnolia virginiana L. - A Native Tree Of Virginia

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / uncropped image / partial shade / backyard woodland insect nature / richmond virginia
Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

How can a lowly weed be viewed as beautiful?

Buy a macro lens and find out!!!!!

This image was taken with a Sigma 150 lens

on my Canon Rebel XT camera ;0)

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk crying "feed me, feed me!"

Young Red-shouldered Hawk calling in hunger while impatiently waiting on a dead Tulip Poplar Tree limb for Mom and Dad to bring food..... and this image also shows one BIG dragonfly captured in flight (tree is about 60 feet tall - click on image to enlarge)

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 - full setting / backyard insect bird raptor nature / richmond virginia - chesterfield county

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Virginia White-tailed Deer - Strolling in my yard

Dear Deer..... What can the matter be?

I'd expect that a drive in the country would bring me the opportunity to photograph our native Whitetail but I live a few minutes from the Richmond City line and this doe is a daily visitor to my yard. She still wisely employs a wary demeanor. Isn't it amazing how our local wildlife have adapted to an urban environment? Nature rules!

Nature Art Image by Carolyn Hietala

Life in a neglected birdbath.

A very small insect emerging from its pupa.

The possibility for any future insect procreation ended when the rainwater eventually evaporated. Now freshly cleaned, the bath is strictly for the birds! This is either a Sad or Happy occasion I suppose..... depending on if you are seeing it from an insect or bird point of view.

(Insects are possibly biting gnats in the family Ceratopogonidae)

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

INSECT EYE CANDY! An Iridescent Beauty..... Salticidae - Jumping Spider - Tutelina

I couldn't help spotting this small arachnid creeping along the Cherry Tree leaves..... once you see one they are not easily forgotten..... real eye-catchers in our insect world ;0)

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / cropped / bright sunshine / backyard woodland iridescent arachnid / richmond virginia

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Bristly Locust - Macro images can bring us even closer to the beauty of nature.

Bokeh Of Soft Dreamy Pinks

It's amazing how different our views of the world can be when captured through the eyes of a macro lens. The tiniest creation can become so magically important. I used a Sigma 150 with my digital SLR Canon EOS Rebel XT camera to take these pictures.

Photo's taken in my Richmond, Virginia (Chesterfield County) backyard flower garden.

Nature Art Photographs by Carolyn Hietala

Huckleberries - One Of Virginia's Native Pleasures

Yummm..... have you ever had Huckleberry pie?

They aren't ripe yet (dwarf variety - G. baccata - fruit is shiny black) but I have every intention of picking at least one serving of these delicious berries this year.

My dog Maggie ate them last year with a little help from the birds. I put up a temporary fence around the patch to keep Maggie out so am hoping the birds leave me some!

Maggie is already munching on the blackberries even though they are still mostly green..... yes I do feed her well..... ha. Since I found her abandoned and living in a hole in an embankment at Swift Creek Reservoir, I guess she had to eat anything she could find to survive. Her favorite indoor treat is a great big raw carrot. ;0)

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Waiting for "permission" to return to the bird feeder

It wasn't me..... promise!

I've been here the whole time.

The bird feeder is on the other side of this tree. NOT innocent. Sibling to the "partner in crime" is shown below resting on the fence.

As always..... permission is granted

whenever I'm not in plain sight!

Eastern Gray Squirrels - Residents of Richmond, Virginia

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Wild Turkey strolling in my backyard yesterday. What's next?

Spotted in Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

(click on image for larger view)

This turkey strolled through the backyard around 7 pm last evening. I had no choice but to take this image through window glass from inside the house as I didn't have time to go outside..... shortly afterwards it disappeared into the woods. I apologize for image quality as it was moving along at a fast pace.

I know nothing about turkeys and have never seen one in my yard... ha.... t'was exciting! It was about a 20 pounder so couldn't miss its visit. What's next? Only a bear could be as unexpected a visitor now ;0)

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

We have Copperhead snakes in Richmond, Virginia and they are not often seen. This shy one was discovered while I was weeding my flower garden.

Copperheads are generally not agressive unless threatened and prefer to lay quiet or flee if disturbed. This one slithered into the woods and will probably never be seen again except in one of my paintings! Warning: They are venomous!
Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Honeybee - Blackberry Blossom

Pollination In Progress.....

Yea for the bees!

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

The softer side of Bok Choy..... edible flowers & buds.

Chinese Cabbage

Whatever name it goes by..... it's DELICIOUS!

Chinese white cabbage, Asian greens, Brassica rapa, Pechay, white vegetable, baechu, wongbok, nappa, pak choi, etc., etc., etc.

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / in shade / image is uncropped / edible plant flowers & buds / richmond virginia

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Bok Choy - Beautiful Yellow Flowers

Chinese Cabbage

Pretty to look at but I prefer it on my plate. Had some for lunch today.....

white stems cut and gently sauteed in a covered wok with a small amount of water and olive oil..... then mix in the leaves, cook only until wilted. I just season mine with Smart Balance and pepper ;0)
canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / filtered sunlight / cropped / grocery store food / richmond virginia

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Diary of the Red-shouldered Hawk - Richmond, Va.

I am keeping a visual record of my resident Red-shouldered Hawk on Flickr. Here is the link to those images..... http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeoncanvas/sets/72157605143978995/detail/

The hunting pattern has become rather scheduled for my resident raptor:

The meadow/wetland/adjoining woodland is its hunting ground for most of the day in the front yard..... then around 4:30 p.m. until dark it frequents the backyard.

It takes all catches off into the woodland to eat or maybe to feed its young if nesting.
I have noticed that it will not arrive to the backyard spot if I am within about 25 feet so I'll avoid the area until I see it hunting (or hear the local birds harassing it) before I get the camera and go outside. It appears this bird gets so focused on searching for prey that it becomes oblivious to my presence unless I approach too loudly or close..... then it flies off to return later to continue the hunt until leaving just before sunset ;0)

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / full setting / cropped / evening backlighting / backyard woodland / richmond virginia / chesterfield county

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Leave your backyard "au naturale"..... don't rake the leaves!

Want to attract one of these birds?

Don't rake the leaves!

Only a small portion of my backyard is grass which is right next to the house and the rest is left "au naturale." If you don't want snakes then break out the rake though..... personally I don't mind them as most are presently very small "safe" species. I located three under the leaves yesterday. I bet this hawk is eating the larger ones but if it spotted a little snake it wouldn't hesitate to make a meal of it I'm sure ;0)
This image is from another angle of this raptor taken yesterday which turned out much nicer with the light touching more of the bird. I was downhill so I lost its feet in the pic ;0(
canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / evening sun / full setting / cropped / backyard woodland / richmond virginia / Red-shouldered Hawk / raptor / bird of prey / chesterfield county

Nature Art Photograph by Carolyn Hietala