I started the month with a theme of welcome back. Welcome back Fall. Welcome back migrating birds. Welcome back good weather. Welcome back normalcy. But as we got deeper into October, a Halloween theme emerged.

I photographed some spiders. I saw a Noble False Widow hanging outside in daylight. They generally come out at night. As I watched, I saw the reason why. She tried several times to go back into the crevice to hide from diurnal predators, but each time it led to an army of Argentine Ants coming out in force to attack her. She would quickly scurry out again. Poor thing.

So many people adore gruesome displays for Halloween. My neighborhood had some extravagant scary and gruesome displays. I generally don't watch scary movies, but finally caught some Stephen King flick that was a box office hit. All it had was so much blood and murder. I have a lot of predator/prey photos this month.  Many are birds such as flycatchers and warblers, but, be warned, there are raptors feeding on fuzzy little mice. Predators have to eat too, but why do mice have to be so cute?

I have put the Turkey Vulture at the end of the set because this scene is particularly gruesome. In November people will be picking the meat off a turkey carcass in celebration. Yet they revile a poor Turkey Vulture who is not a predator. It is a scavenger merely cleaning up the opossum victim left by a murderous coyote. I must admit, I found it a bit gruesome too.

Happy Halloween and Happy Nature Walks. 

Watch the slideshows or click on the links to look through at your own pace. Links open in a new tab.

Enjoy the show! I always appreciate corrections to ID's.

Local Stuff:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_oct_2021