Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro

Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Drinking

honey bee drinking at birdbath

I have occasionally seen the odd honey bee drinking water from the edge of the pond, and occasionally from the edge of the birdbath – but never en masse like they have this year. I don’t know if it is the nature of the summer weather, or the fact the neighbours have a beehive – but they have been there every day in numbers for most of the last few months. I got the tripod and my macro lens in very close to them and aside from a few buzzing around my head they didn’t much care I was there. At least they sit still on the birdbath relative to on the flowers.

honey bee drinking at birdbath honey bees drinking at birdbath group

honey bee drinking at birdbath honey bee drinking at birdbath

Spring in the Backyard

Taking a bit of a break from processing the Mt. Rainier photos (though still a bunch of interesting ones to come – and a few new panoramas). Yesterday was nice and sunny and I wandered out into the backyard to give my macro lens some much needed exercise.

The walnut tree always has some great texture to the bark.

walnut bark walnut bark

Lilac (Lilas commun) buds about to flower. Most of these were killed by frost but here is a survivor.

Lilac - lilas commun - about to bloom Lilac - lilas commun - about to bloom

A wasp or fly of some sort (yes, some mimic to appear scary) that I am too lazy to ID because I am simply not interested in spending a hour+ in an insect key. This one is on a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Also, Bluebells (Hyacinthoides sp.) about to flower.

wasp fly dandelion taraxacum officinale bluebells - hyacinthoides sp - buds

Lichen!

lichen on arbour lichen on arbour

Wood!

texture

I have very little clue what this dried up plant skeleton really is. I shall investigate but it was in the remains of last years Peony plants and, I have no better guess. Looks more interesting in macro though (its actually about an inch long).

plant skeleton from peony (likely) plant skeleton from peony (likely)

Panoramas from Baker Lake

1. 8 exposures stitched, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro USM

Panoramas of the forest and mountains around Baker Lake. Mt. Baker from the east near Baker Lake.

mt. baker baker lake

1. 8 exposures stitched, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro USM

Mt. Shuksan from the south (usually photographing it from the west) near Baker Lake.

mt. shuksan baker lake