Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area

These were no more than tiny red specks on this fallen branch (maybe an inch to an inch and a half diameter) and in fact I stopped to look because I thought it might be some kind of teeny red fungi. However, when I picked up the branch to take a closer look, the specks all started to move - fast! I believe these are Hemipterans, True Bugs, more specifically Shield Bugs or Stink Bugs. Nymphs, the immature insects, are more difficult to accurately identify, but our money is on the Harlequin Bug, Murgantia histrionica." From What's that Bug?. The above information was not on my photo, but someone else's of what seemed to be identical insects. I love the red and black and the three lines on each perfect little bug. Found on the private, southern edge of the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area, just southwest of the city, on Sunday - oh, I guess that was yesterday : )

Usually, I see only one small Skipper at a time. On a visit to the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area, just south west of the city, on August 19th, there were hundreds of these butterflies! Never seen that many before. Location is only very approximate on map.

This was the first Blue Lettuce flower that I had seen this year, so I was happy when a group of us came across it at the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, on August 19th. Each flower is about 2 cm across.

I don't see this species very often, so it's always a delight to come across it. This plant was seen growing in the shallow water near the edge of a small pond on the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, just south west of the city, on August 19th. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persicaria_amphibia

I couldn't believe how this little beetle looked as if it were made of copper when the sun shone on it.