August 28, 2013 - A Few Surprises

Pelicans feeding bring in the gulls and cormorants

 

Clematis still in bloom

Haven't seen many preying mantis this year

Small toad sitting on large chard leaf

The garden in late summer

I had great fun watching the pelicans this morning.  There were quite a number of them, churning up the water as they fed.  And the cormorants and gulls kept flying in and out of the melee, hoping to find something for themselves.  Unfortunately, it's a considerable distance to where the pelicans were.  I can see them clearly with my spotting scope, but my long lens doesn't have the power it needs to bring them in close.

 

The toad was the other amazing find.  He has different coloration from most of the toads in my garden, and was quite small.  I ran into him accidentally while cutting basil for a friend.  That uncovered his hiding place.  Hopefully he will stay in the vicinity, and continue eating insects.  The same for the mantis - munch those bugs!  (I wish either one was large enough to eat snails...)