Bugs and things that eat them

We have lots of these babies keeping the sap-sucking things in check.  Paul collected their egg cases last year and tucked them into tree tubes for protection.  I guess it worked.  We are looking forward to more next year.

Last night we saw hundreds of dragonflies guarding the meadows and snatching gnats as they zoomed back and forth just as the sun hit the hills behind the house.
This toad must not smell good; it has evaded Buddy's maw several times.

The nights are cool enough that the locusts, katydids, and crickets get quiet after 2AM and the elk have been bugling for about 2 weeks.  I prefer the elk to the locusts and crickets.
This has been the "best" year for fall webworms.  Natives, but still unsightly.

The basketball in this maple tree is one of several bald faced hornets' paper nests around the Baron.
The hummingbirds are still around.   We don't have the numbers of years passed but one joins me for breakfast every morning.
Fall is a wonderful time at the Barony.

First day of Fall on the calendar

The elk next door is bugling a beautiful bell like song, the forest paths area covered with crunchy leaves and the hummingbirds seem to have gone to warmer climes. I didn't get home until 6:30 tonight so we only walked in the meadow after dinner. We are trying to avoid porcupines and other nocturnal creepy crawlies. It's still a good walk but only half as long as through the trees. The bald-faced hornet's nest on the tree in the top line is in good shape but the chickens have shredded the lower hive.
It appears that the equal day/night is Friday! On Sept 25 sunrise is 0602 and sunset is 1803 in State College. Here is another very interesting site about the equinox.