Encounters

Encounter 1:

While Melanie was picking Blueberries, she noted a little Green Bug dart under a leaf.  She looked and noted it was a Praying Mantis, which was just a baby.  Then the Mantis scurried off and she could not find it.  So she continued picking Blueberries. 

I came along and Melanie got excited.  She pointed where the Mantis had been, and there it was again.  I darted off quickly to get the camera.  "Don't scare him," I said. 

Melanie settled down and started to watch him.  The Mantis was facing away, and then turned its head back.  Melanie said, "Hi."  And he scurried under the leaf.  "So cute," she said.  Melanie said she felt like a little kid at her discovery and their interaction.  The Mantis went under the leaf.  Once again, she saw its head look back out at her.  And then the Mantis darted back under the leaf. 

Melanie said that the Praying Mantis was shy.  "It sure was cute to see that little head turn around and look at me again."  The Mantis was less than an inch long and a nice bright new spring green. Praying Mantises can grow from .5 to 6 inches; their heads can turn 180 degrees. Their lifespan in the wild is 12 months. (Source: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/praying-mantis/)

I took some pictures.  And they did not turn out. 

Encounter 2:

We had a lovely Rainshower today.  Richard watched a Great Crested Flycatcher having a shower during the Shower.  The bird was at the top of the Austree and he was preening.  He seemed to be obviously enjoying himself.

Encounter 3:

After the Rainstorm which packed straight line winds of 80 miles per house the other night, Richard got out the flashlight, shined it about outside.  He noted a little Raccoon on the platform bird feeder.  The Raccoon was sitting there eating Sunflower Seeds.  He was munching away and seemingly saying:  "That was a quite a storm."  After that particular Rainstorm, the Humans were not even considering heading outside and munching on Sunflower Seeds.  But we aren't Raccoons.