What do Michael Bublé, a Bordered Mantis, and a Little Blue Heron have in common? Sway. I love that song.

This month I had a Bordered Mantis in my yard and watched it for a long time. It hung upside down in the shade under the flowers, not moving, except for an occasional swaying motion. 

"Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease"

I also saw a Little Blue Heron at Jack Dunster Marine Reserve, a rare bird for this area. It did a little sway and I was reminded of other egrets and herons that do neck swaying. Do the mantis and herons have a common behavior with a common goal? I have read some opinions, not as a comparison of the two, but as to suggested explanations for the behavior for each individually. Some suggested explanations are camouflage swaying like a flower (or reeds) in the breeze. It is also suggested that it has something to do with enticing prey. And what particularly makes sense to me, is to aid in depth perception. So the next time you see an insect or bird start to sway, you can thank me for the musical earworm.

"When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more"

I again spent a little time on many days in my yard to admire the diversity and variability of wasps, bees, butterflies, flies, and dragonflies. Even with time and patience, it was hard to get them to hold still for pictures.

I visited a few local spots for birds and butterflies. Most of my visits were to the river or shore to look for returning shorebirds. After a nice view of a Scripp's Murrelet close to shore, my attention was diverted to several cute Brown Rats. For some reason, the birders I was with were less impressed.

I caught some other interesting mammals on the night motion cameras in my yard: skunk, cat, and bat. I was surprised by the bat. Both the cat and the bat were seen eating brown widow spiders.

The only thing noteworthy on my wetlands survey was a Sandhill Skipper. Otherwise it was a pleasant day with the expected birds.
 

Happy nature watching. 
 

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Local Stuff:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_aug-2024

Los Cerritos Wetlands Monthly Survey:  https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/hellman_aug-2024