Animated GIF: The Batter

Sometimes You Just Can't Put the Camera Away

 

 

At the end of an exhausting, all day walk, with the camera, I was headed home.

The show, this guy was putting on, couldn't be passed up.

The Pentax K3 was equipped with a 300mm lens and a 1.4 converter.

That gave me a focal length of 420mm.

From half, a city block away, this series of photos was taken to capture the action.

Exposure:  f/5.6  1/1250   ISO 200

Green Ladybug? No! It's a Harlequin Bug

This bright green insect with red and black markings crossed my path.

For sure, I thought it was some sort of ladybug.

So, I chased it down the highway, crawling on my hands and knees with the camera.

Luckily, we were on a road that doesn't see much traffic.

The  bug was moving fast and, I needed better light; this was my best chance to catch it.

When it hit that yellow seed or, fruit, I fired away.

Ladybugs Don't Come in Green Colors

 

 

 

 

 

The first 10 minutes of online research, led me to that conclusion. Groan.

Some sort of Entomologist would have to help me identify this insect.

What is an Entomologist?

They are what I call, Bug Experts and, the world could sure use more of them.

Luckily, I found one on Facebook and messaged him, privately.

Along with my message, I attached 3 photos of this bug. He replied:

"This is not a Ladybug. Larva of the harlequin bug."

 Harlequin Bug got me the scientific name Murgantia histronica.

Other common names are, Cabbage Bug, Calico Bug, Fire Bug and Terrapin Back.

It sucks the juice out of plants and kills them !

Some people call them Stink Bugs.

They are pretty little things but, you probably wouldn't want to collect them.

Not alive, anyway.

REFERENCES:

Bug Guide

Discover Life

Texas A&M

University of Florida

Visit Environmental Science Org for More Educational Resources

Why Are Crows Such Nasty Birds ?

Answer Found in an Okinawan Folktale

 

 

Many years ago a hunter went up in the mountains of Miyako in search of food.

Armed with a bow and arrow, he wasn't having much success finding any game.

He spotted a beautiful golden bird but, didn't shoot it.

The bird, started speaking.

If the man would promise to not hunt  birds on this mountain again, he would be rewarded.

The golden bird would grant him any wish, he desired.

Back at home, he had a wife who was always complaining about the place they lived in.

So, the man requested a mansion for his wife.

Sure enough, when he got home, his wife was in their beautiful new home.

She said, a crew came and refurbished the whole place and she was surprised.

When the man told her it was because of the golden bird, she became angry.

She wished she could fly like a bird and, wanted that more than a fancy house.

The man felt like a fool but, went back to find the bird to make another request.

He thanked the bird for the new house.

But, he knew his complaining wife wouldn't stop until she had her wish granted.

She wanted to be able to fly.

The golden bird was a little ruffled over this request but, made an exception for this old man.

When he got home, his wife couldn't be found anywhere.

She had been turned into the ugliest bird the man had ever seen; a crow.

To this day, the people of Miyako have a saying about crows.

They say, "Look what another greedy person has been turned into."

Reference: Folktales of Okinawa

ISBN4-947654-05-8

Osprey in Flight -- It's a Plane Not a Bird

Controversial Bird Don't Bother Me

 

 

People complained about the horseless carriages when they first came out.

Now, folks get riled up over this new aircraft.

It is probably much safer than the older models flying around here, every day.

Some of the people who are squawking, drive those horseless carriages.

And, they talk, type and check their mail on their phones, while driving. Hah !

To prove how safe this newfangled flying machine is, here's what they should do.

Give them to the leaders of all countries, around the globe, to fly to important meetings.

Heck, all politicians deserve to have free rides in them.

And, should one or two of them crash, we could say stuff like, "Oops."

Travel Shots -- Heart Rock of Kouri-jima

A whirlwind tour of Kouri Island, today had us visiting this rock at low tide.

Named the Heart Rock, signs reading ハート ロック lead you there.

With the publicity this stone formation has gotten, it gets plenty of visitors.

A second parking lot had to be built to handle the volume of cars and buses stopping by.

My recommendation would be, check the tide schedules and, visit during high tide.

Some travelers, like to walk up to touch the stone or, pose with it.

It wouldn't surprise me if they built a boardwalk around the thing, one of these days.

That way, wedding photographers could bring brides in their gowns for photos.

Take a look at this YouTube video to see it when the tide is in.

Some photos from my first visit to this famous rock formation are also, here.