Bugs and Birds

So a week or so ago I went into the Pony shop during my lunch hour to buy a helmet and a decent bike lock. At 8:25 that morning we discovered a scheduling crisis with the car and I, in a fit of generosity/carbon footprint guilt, volunteered to ride my bike. Actually, my daughter's bike.* But then we couldn't find her lock or my helmet thus the visit to the Pony shop. I found a lock and a spiffy new helmet and, of course, a spiffy new bike. Maybe it was the intoxicating combination of tools, grease, mechanical bits and wheels. Or the allure of speed and the ability to change gears without mishap. Whatever. I now have this fabulous new bike and I've been cycling everywhere. I'm in danger of becoming a cycling nut. One of the great, unanticipated pleasures of all this riding around is experiencing wildlife. This past weekend I found this catching a ride with me:


Please note that the photo is a pale imitation of reality. This little jewel of a beetle looked like it had been created out of polished copper with deep emerald green inlays. I later discovered (because I had to know what it was) that it's a Japanese Beetle and the scourge of gardiners near and far. I still think it's gorgeous.





I also heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that looked like this (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

As well as a murder of crows, several bluejays (chasing a cardinal), and a variety of finches.





And as a background chorus, was the drone of cicadas and crickets.














Aren't they gorgeous? Next toy on my wish list is a digital camera.


*My bikes: #1 A Schwinn 3 speed bought with my babysitting money when I was 12. It has Issues. #2 A Motobecane 10 speed I bought at 15 when I wouldn't have been caught dead on a Schwinn 3 speed. It doesn't like potholes or changing gears.

Just FYI, I will not ever appear in spandex.