Beautiful Bull Elk, mother and calf near a closed area of the remote part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. "Sequestration", and few if any people has probably resulted in some unique viewing opportunities. Not sure if this is the full extent of his family. As big as he is he is still not the top dog in these parts! Filmed in a steady rain.
Five Second Video: Guilty Red Squirrel - Caught in the act of stealing a nut!
Guilty Red Squirrel - Caught in the Act.
A little fun! This Red Squirrel dropped in from above and completed the nut robbery in 5 seconds -Ninja-style! In an effort to avoid the camera trap this little Red Squirrel tries to quickly grab just one nut at a time - but he clearly realizes he is busted!
Swallowtail Butterfly Rule The Hummingbird Feeder!
No Room For Hummingbirds Here!
Aerial Battle For Nectar Feeder Dominance - Won By The Butterfly!
I'm not sure this phenomena has been well-documented before, but it is amazing on at least two counts - one the butterfly is hovering by rapidly flapping its wings like a hummingbird to drink nectar from a feeder, and two - the butterfly is totally dominating the nectar feeder and chasing away the hummingbirds with deliberate acts of aggression. I observed this odd behavior and fortunately it continued for some time - allowing me to get my camera set up nearby on a tripod without disturbing the actions. This Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly pushes around both male and female Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds at a small nectar feeder. Very surprising since the hummers spend the day violently fighting each other for dominance of the feeder. I know they are the smallest birds in the world, but they should remember they are indeed birds and not let insects push them around. Perhaps the amazing cheekiness of this Swallowtail has thrown them for a loop - they don't know what to do - it wont even share the feeder with them! It is also possible the butterfly it is under the influence of the high octane artificial nectar and acting out of character!
Video: Back Capped Or Hybrid Chickadee In Great Smoky Mountains
Back Capped Or Hybrid Chickadee In Great Smoky Mountains
This Chickadee is having a great time and there is a special guest appearance at the end you'll want to stick around for. Positively ID'ing this bird is a bit of a challenge - I am not an expert birder by any means. Here is a great resource on Chickadee identification. This bird is at 4000 feet elevation in the Great Smoky Mountains where the Black-Capped Chickadee is know to replace the Carolina Chickadee or to possibly coexist. This is a bit of a rough looking bird (in a nice way) with a large messy bib and is likely the Black-Capped Chickadee or perhaps a hybrid?
Video: Mother Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl Guarding the Nest Box in Florida
Mother Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl Guarding the Nest Box in Florida
Watch this dedicated Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl mother display a range of facial expressions as she guards her nest box and hops to a new perch. The three owlets are getting big and it is too hot and crowded for her to spend the day in the box so she perches nearby - always ready to come to their aide.
Isolated Carolina Lily on a single stem on a remote trail hillside in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Large Many-Blossom Turk's Cap Lily along the Blue Ridge Parkway (see below)
Large Many-Blossom Turk's Cap Lily along the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Carolina Lily and Turk's Cap Lily are both spectacular mid-summer wildflowers. The kind of flowers that catch your eye as your going down a mountain road and cause you to stop and turn around. It's difficult to tell the blossoms apart, but the Turk's Cap has a green star formed where the petals come together and is generally a much larger plant with multiple blossoms in a moist area. If its along a roadside ditch or drainage its probably Turk's Cap. The singular Carolina Lily was found on a relatively dry steep forest hillside along a trail in a remote area. Regardless, they both make a big impression and are not that common in the mountains. More HD videos every week. Please Subscribe at: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=MyBackyardBirding
I tested this golden silk by lifting 7 ordinary household items. Lifting a pair of scissors and a Droid Smartphone were too easy so I gradually increased the weight the golden web supported:
Two Small Bananas
Canon Point and Shoot Camera
8 ounce soft drink (1/2 pound)
Pound of bananas - no problem!
Two pound hammer - you'll have to watch the video!
This is the second blog on the Golden Silk Orb Weaver Spider in our Florida Backyard. The first blog Golden Silk Orb Weaver Spider in Florida (Part 1) discussed the spider. Part two is a test of the strength of the "golden silk". A sample of the golden web of the giant Golden Silk Orb Weaver that was captured and release in Florida (see Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RXyYzjzZvs ) was tested to demonstrate it's amazing strength. Some of the strongest biological material on earth. These big spiders share the backyard ecosystem with the birds and other creatures. They are not poisonous and rarely come into contact with humans unless we unwittingly walk into their huge and strong webs. This web was at least 8 feet wide and 4 to 8 feet off the ground!
Video: Butterflies and Hummingbirds Love Crimson Bee Balm
Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly on Crimson Bee Balm Wildflower
Its late summer wildflower and butterfly season and I found a nice colony of Crimson Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)in a mucky area along a mountain stream. Pipevine Swallowtails with the characteristic 7 orange spots on the underside of the wings and a few Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds were feasting on the nectar. Bee Balm is called many things including: crimson beebalm, scarlet beebalm, scarlet monarda, Oswego tea, or bergamot. It is in the mint family and has a long history of medicinal use - usually in tea form. To find a large wild natural colony of this striking wildflower is quite a treat. More HD videos every week. Please Subscribe at: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=MyBackyardBirding
Video: Small Mountain Stream Up Close - Cool and Greenl!
It's been unusually wet in the Great Smoky Mountains this summer. This is a close up video of a small, cool, fast running mountain stream surrounding by a sea of green plants that thrive in the wet environment. This stream is primarily spring fed year round but swells with runoff during rainy periods. Relax and enjoy this short meditation - especially nice after a hot summer day!
