A barn swallow banking into a curve. They spend the morning and evening swooping over the fields snatching up insects. They are fast moving but they are circling the field, so even after the 15th lap I still get another try. Three hundred photos later I hope there is at least one in focus!

Probably female since she has pale underparts, but not definitive.

2021-06-21 NIH field, Bethesda, MD

Lots of egrets at the marsh on Sunday, this one doing a little fishing.

2021-07-11 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA [DSC04070]

A white-breasted nuthatch out house hunting this spring, checking out a large knothole in a local tree. She decided not to take it---too much foot traffic nearby.

2021-08-03 NIH field, Bethesda, MD [DSC06863]

Here's a summer azure, like the eastern tailed-blue (#85, #86, #93), but with no tail. Again, the wing tops are bluish to grayish depending on sex. We didn't have the patience to get a picture on this walk.

2021-09-05 Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA [DSC09940]

A great spangled fritillary on thistle, along with a cucumber beetle and a crab spider. It looks like she* took a fair amount of damage in her 4–6 weeks of life, maybe wind and hail, maybe thorns, maybe the occasional nip from an almost lucky bird. She still seems to fly just fine, so hopefully all is well.

I can't ID the crab spider below the family level without a good view of the eyes.

* Or "he". Females are "larger and darker" according to wikipedia. Thanks, guys… that really helps when I've just got the one. This one may be a little darker than others I see on Bug Guide.

2021-09-25 Patuxent Research Refuge, Greenbelt, MD

The crown of the sycamore reflected off the water of the canal. There was a light breeze tickling the surface giving rise to fine ripples. No need to twiddle anything in post.

Branches. Yes, that's it: It is a photo of branches.

2021-11-07 C&O Canal, Bethesda, MD

According to tradition, a kiss at the ringing in of the new year ensures affections for the coming year. From the internets, this is an ancient tradition adapted from the festival of Saturn. Methinks cause and effect are reversed in this instance, but who am I to argue with a Roman god.

2021-06-01 Barrett St Marsh, Northampton, MA [DSC08052]

A fellow traveler with the chickadees and titmouses, these cardinals were enjoying some japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica). Although the seeds are pretty, the knotweed is one of the top 100 worst invasive species in the world.[1] Deep roots (3 m) adaptable to all soil types and a lot of seeds make this hard to eliminate. It can survive -35 C, so Massachusetts winters aren't going to touch it.

2021-12-30 Barrett St Marsh, Northampton, MA [IMG_9704]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynoutria_japonica#Invasive_species

Another member of the flock. Unlike female bluebirds (#225) and juveniles (#52) the males show much more blue.

2022-01-30 Great Falls, Potomac, MD [IMG_0610]

They also look good in silhouette.

2022-03-07 Joshua Tree National Park, CA [DSC09887]

The desert dry wash is a specific biome with plants specialized for flooding. For example, seeds that don't sprout unless they get scraped up by sand and gravel.

2022-03-07 Lost Palms Oasis Trail, Joshua Tree NP, CA [DSC09285]

Another tide-pool denizen, this one a little faster moving. Good thing, too, since it has to scuttle into cracks and crevices when danger lurks above.

2022-03-09 Leo Carrillo State Beach, Malibu, CA [DSC00959]