A backyard visitor, this green Grasshopper was lounging in the morning sun on a potted hibiscus.
The eyes are pretty interesting, especially looking at him head on.
Green on green, he’s got good camouflage on this leaf. I found out a bit later it wasn’t just the camo, or the leaf, he was interested in.
I was busy watching for dragonflies when a bigger movement in a stand of cattails caught my eye.
He flashed his dewlap, looking for a mate or protecting his terrratory.
A number of dragonflies used the fence protecting the flower garden at Middleton Place as a resting spot.
July 7, 2021
When Ted called out “get your camera, there’s a snake on the patio” I grabbed my gear that had the Tamron 180mm lens attached and went as far as the screened in porch. I’m sure I’ve mentioned I’m not really a snake fan. But it was back yard nature so I wanted to see.
By this time the snake had left the patio and zipped up a Crepe Myrtle. I waited for Ted to spot it and we were pretty sure it was a harmless Ribbon Snake, then I ventured out the porch door.
He was wrapped back on himself, lifted his head for a look around then stayed still for several minutes.
With the fixed 180mm lens I couldn’t get far enough back with a clear view to take him all in (ugg). A little breeze was moving a branch from a neighboring tree in and out of the frame.
A tighter crop after he had moved his head just a tad:
Standing on the porch with the door open I got a little different view, but still didn’t get his full tail.
About 20 minutes later we watched him slowly exit the tree and head back into the woods. Where I would like him to stay!
Another capture from the backyard with the 180mm prime lens, a Carolina Anole perched on a weather worn thermometer.
With my interest in dragonflies and following Mike Powell’s blog (MichaelQPowell.com/) Ted was sure I needed the Tamron 180mm macro lens.
Who was I to argue? He found a used one for sale and it arrived today.
One of my first subjects was a very young Anole on our patio.
This is my first non-image stabilized lens and it will require some practice.
