WTF Shed Aquarium Edition

I suppose I could have looked at the sign in front of these fish things, but I didn't. They look a bit like a cross between an anime cartoon, a lizard a fish and an eel. Anybody what to through a little help my way. What are these creatures?

WTF? Bird Edition

This is the type of bird you would pass on the street and probably never say "I wonder what kind of bird that is?" Now, I don't want to get all heavy into "labels" and "categories" but I would be curious if anyone could actually identify this bird.

Twitchy Gray Bird

This birdy though she was such a hot shot that she didn't have to stay still for a photo. I ended up taking a new approach. I PUT DOWN BAIT. I know this is an unusual practice for Creature Comforts, but I think the results speak for themselves.

I spent much of my time in WeMass trying to get different birds to stand still. I saw a beautiful assortment of Blue Jays, Cardinals, and Wood Peckers. Unfortunately most of these birds were too nervous to chill out for a second.

Spiders in Our World: Cave Spiders

As a final installment (for now) of "Spiders in Our World." I give you a spider that lives in a cave. It builds tunnels with its web and waits patiently for its dinner. If you haven't noticed yet, spiders have many eyes.

Spiders in Our World: The Hair Spider

Another big one. I shot this guy in my front yard as night fell over us. I was upset with the falling light but the effect was that the flash picked up all the hair on its legs and body. I woke up the next day to take some video footage, but this spider was gone!

Spiders in Our World: This scared the s--t out of me!

I've never seen a spider with biceps before.
I had planned to go to the zoo, but it looked like rain and no one wanted to go to help with the photo shoot. Instead I decided to check my back yard for new photo ops. Now, I wish I hadn't. This spider was so bad-ass that, while I was trying to take some snapshots, it ate another spider right in front of me (link to blurry photos here.) I include the wider shot in the futile hope of providing some sense of the size of this guy. At first I was afraid to get too close, then I realized that this spider was so powerful he probably wouldn't even waste his time biting a human. He just didn't even care. Click to enlarge, if you dare.

Large Beetle

I ran into this guy walking down Chicon street. It was one of those slightly awkward moments when you find yourself walking next to someone at exactly the same pace and so its like you're walking together even though you don't actually know eachother. At first I was worried he thought I was trying to pick him up or something. Eventually we got to talking and he let me take a portrait. I used my hand as a reference but, in case you didn't know, I have the biggest hands in the world. Also, I had been grubbing around in the dirt in search of animalitos, so the fingernails are a bit dirty.

Cicada Vs. Stick Bug

I was sitting at a picnic table, wondering where my next picture would come from when this crazy cicada fell out of a tree and started freaking out all around me. After a while I realized that it was locked in mortal combat with some type of stick bug. They wrastled for ten rounds, finally the cicada managed to get himself free. Both bugs were so tired out from their fight that they just lay on the table, catching their breath through their tiny breathing holes on the sides of their bodies (sphiricals?). It was then that I snapped this picture. Anyone know what kind of stick bug this is? I encourage you to CLICK TO ENLARGE.

WTF? Part II

I took a trip to the Hill Country yesterday and came back with more pictures than I know what to do with. I saw this goat-like thing chillin' with some of his cohorts next to the road. This was the only shot I managed. I could imagine a wack-looking creature like this roaming the serengeti, but what was he doing in a cow pasture near Enchanted Rock? Little help please, WTF is this thing?

July 4th Special: A Spider Eating the Hell out of a Butterfly

The way of nature is not always kind, and this picture tells the story. We walked by this butterfly (moth?) and kept wondering if it was alive or dead. On closer inspection I discovered the reason it was moving so erratically. It was dead but was being suspended from a plank of wood by a spider that was simultaneously feeding on it. This spider's strength is commendable. Imagine holding onto this bug while hanging from your feet and eating it at the same time! I will try to identify these bugs and post in the comments. This picture's inherent drama rivals any fireworks display.

A Large Night Moth and Early Leonard Cohen

I spotted this beautiful moth in a hidden garden near a hidden house in the middle of a huge parking lot. The place kind of reminds me of something you'd find in a book by Haruki Murakami I have searched far and wide for a name for this creature but have found nothing. Here I include a picture of myself to give you some sense of scale. I also think I look a little like Leonard Cohen in that famous "best of" album he did, maybe in the nose. Early Leonard Cohen is, of course, his best. I don't know why he had to get all synthesized later on.

A "Fancy Pants" Bird

I stalked this fancy bird in the creek between Ruby's BBQ and the fire station.

No Body, Long Neck

I took a picture of this bird because it had a really long neck, but it wasn't like any other long necked bird I had seen before. It ate some fish at Shoal Creek and then it took off.

A Hideous Swarm

This is a pretty nasty swarm of bugs (flying ants?).

WTF?

I don't want this to become a Bug Blog. But WTF with this spider that was outside my door? It is creepy as hell. Can anyone help me identify it? I'll try to get another pic that demonstrates its size, its a big one.