Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

Every year Cope’s Gray treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) gather at small pools to breed between May and July. More than two dozen gather and lay eggs in small water containers on our patio. We see the tadpoles as they develop but rarely see them leave the water. Our patio has been the main gathering site in our area until recently when a subdivision was developed nearby and another small shallow pool area, in the form of a water retention pond, was built directly across from the corner of our property. This pond has provided another breeding pond for Upland Chorus frogs (Pseudacris feriarum) and Cope’s Gray treefrogs.

Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) – Juvenile

Yesterday as I was photographing the Common Buckeye butterflies, I spotted this juvenile Cope’s Gray treefrog. It was about 0.5- to 0.75-inches long. It was resting in the sun so it’s color pattern is not as distinct as it would be in the shade. It had probably come from the retention pond approximately 50 yards along the road.

Identification resource:
- Frogs and Toads of Georgia: Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

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Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

Butterflies have begun to visit the flowering Buddleia davidii. Yesterday morning, more than half a dozen Common Buckeyes were working the flowers.

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

They were almost tame. They would fly to another flower if I got too close but then they would fly back in to a branch directly beside me. They are calm enough that I was able to take this shot with a macro lens.

Identification resources:
- West Central Georgia Butterflies by Michael Beohm: Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
- BugGuide: Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

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Dragonfly: Lancet Clubtail (Gomphus exilis)

Lancet Clubtail (Gomphus exilis) - Male

You’ll have to click on this image and view the larger image to appreciate this shot and, even then, it’s difficult to see this one. I almost missed getting the shot. This dragonfly blends so well with it’s background. I saw it land but had to move around behind it to get a ‘straight-on’ shot. I didn’t keep my eyes on it while I was moving and it took some considerable effort to spot it again.

Identification resources:
- BugGuide: Lancet Clubtail (Gomphus exilis)
- Georgia Dragonfly Survey: Lancet Clubtail (Gomphus exilis)

Dragonfly: Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata)

Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata) - Female

Identification resources:
- BugGuide: Corporals, Genus Ladona
- Georgia Dragonfly Survey: Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata)
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Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)

Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)

Identification resources:
- West Central Georgia Butterflies by Michael Beohm: Red-banded Hairstreak
- BugGuide: Butterflies, Hairstreaks

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Green Anole: ‘Cept She’s Brown

She was sitting on a dead Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) flower. That’s why I didn’t see her. She must have moved and that movement caught my eye. She’s probably a Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis); she’s turned brown to adapt to her background.

She’s a female; she doesn’t have the pink dewlap that the male displays. She tried to threaten me anyway. I didn’t see the threat because of the sun’s glare on the camera viewer. I just took shots and hoped they’d come out. She gradually moved off along the stem to the cover of the bush.

She’s a beautiful creature.

Identification resource: Lizards of Georgia and South Carolina
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Peace in the blueberries: Butterflies

While the bees and wasps were working the flowers and providing sound effects, the blueberries had a couple of silent visitors.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

A Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) stopped by for a very brief moment. She had hardly landed and she was off again. I barely got the one photo.

Olive Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)

On th other hand, an Olive Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus) stayed for quite a long time. I almost didn’t notice it since it is a small butterfly, about 3/4-in long, and it was moving quietly and spending quite some time at each bloom. This particular butterfly was very patient and gave the impression of being oblivious to the fact that I had the macro lens almost touching it. Interestingly, this specimen doesn't have much olive color. It also took some time to identify since I was looking for the color rather than the markings. Once I concentrated on the markings, I quickly identified it.

Additional identification resouces: Bugguide.net
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