Tser's Hoard

Ghost Mantis Phyllocrania paradoxa

I’m waiting for my wife to get back from the film festival she was at in Pittsburgh. We’re spoiling him as much as we can until his appointment.

On Sunday, I desperately had to get out of the house. I am still recovering from surgery, and very tired. I get physically worn out and sore just standing or sitting too long. But it’s so beautiful outside! I asked my SO if he’d give a ride to the nature park so I could shuffle about a bit and sit on the benches, just to enjoy the fall weather. I was lucky enough to see, along with many other birds, a Cooper’s Hawk and this Barred Owl, which I got many photos of, until my camera ran out of batteries. Then I watched as it swooped down, inches from my head, pounced and caught a garter snake, flew with it into a tree right above me, and killed and ate it. Too bad I hadn’t charged my camera battery before going. -_- I did get photos of that with my cell phone, at least. (I’ll come back here soon, when I’ve got the energy.)