Bill McClain

A Long, skinny black and gold wasp with large eyes and long antennae visits some pink snowberry blossoms

This great golden digger wasp is kinda cute and basically harmless. They naturally help keep other insect populations in balance.
#bugsky #nature #naturephotography

Black and yellow bee sits atop a yellow daisy-like flower with many pink and yellow stamens

I wonder how the flower appears from the bee’s perspective.
Yellow-faced bumblebee and blanket flower.
#bees #bugsky #flower #nature #naturephotography

A thin-waisted wasp with a very long thin ovipositor sits atop yellow lovage blossoms

It looks lethal but just a long ovipositor. Carrot wasps are docile and rarely sting (unless you’re a bug)
#bugsky #bees #nature #naturephotography

A black and gold bumblebee crawling out of a dark yellow pumpkin blossom

This fall, when you harvest your pumpkins and squash, thank your local bumblebees.
#bugsky #bees #plantsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #flower

Golden bumblebee sips nectar from violet fan flower

I do love summer…
#bees #bugsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography

Shiny metallic green sweat bee sits atop a yellow coreopsis blossom

Sweat bees are tiny jewels and their eyes are amazing.
#bugsky #bees #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #flower

Dragonfly with black and clear wing markings against a yellow background

King skimmer dragonfly showing off his amazing wing design.
#bugsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography

An iridescent green fly sits atop the yellow center of a white daisy

Beauty is best seen by looking closely.
#bugsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #plantsky #flower

Ladybug crawling upside down on underside of a large white daisy illuminated by overhead sun.

Ladybugs are super bugs 🐞 They naturally manage insect populations and help out as pollinators.
#bugsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #plantsky #flower

We are including that quote in our Pollinator Pathway NW quarterly newsletter set to be released this week.

Great video! Thanks for sharing

Tiger swallowtail butterfly, yellow with black stripes and blue highlights, rests on some violet wallflower blossoms. He is sipping nectar with his long proboscis.

Tiger swallowtails were more plentiful when I was young. Now they are a treat to see.
#bugsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #flower #plantsky

I do photography 1) for fun, 2) to promote appreciation for and stewardship of nature. WRT the second purpose, I generally make my photography available for free to groups/individuals with the same goal.

Black and gold bumblebee is head down in a delicate pink blossom.

Bees are beautifully delicate yet incredibly competent.
Flower is our native meadow checkermallow.
#bees #bugsky #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #flowers #plantsky

White flower with large bright veined yellow center. A small, metallic black bee is visiting the flower.

Our native Douglas’ meadowfoam is also called the poached egg flower (wonder why?)
Not sure if its visitor is a sweat bee or miner bee.
#bees #bugsky #flowers #plantsky #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #plants

Lovely!

Gold bumblebee approaching a blue and violet penstemon blossom with proboscis extended

The tongue (proboscis) is out in anticipation.
(Native penstemon ovatus)
#bees #bugsky #nature #naturephotography #flowers #wildlife #plantsky

No wonder I couldn’t find any thing that looked like him under beetles. Thanks for identifying him!

Two orange and gold bumblebees are perched on a clump of violet wallflower

These two know how to share.
#bees #bugsky #flowers #plantsky #nature #naturephotography #wildlife

Brown beetle with longish antennas, and rectangular tapered body. The intricate pattern on his back with the brown and gold checkered strips along the edges reminds me of inlaid wood patterns.

This handsome little beetle reminds me of inlaid wood patterns. Anyone able to identify him?
#bugsky #nature #naturephotography #wildlife

A yellow and gold bumblebee sips from indigo and violet lupine blossoms against a light green backdrop.

The bees obviously enjoy our native big-leaf lupine.
#bees #bugsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #flower #plantsky

A pair of black, white and chestnut patterned ducks paddle down a small rocky passage

Harlequin ducks, Fidalgo Island in the Salish Sea
#birds #birdphotography #wildlife #nature #naturephotography

Bumblebee with swollen yellow pollen sac on his leg burrows into vivid purple camas blossom.

Not just another pretty face, the camas lily was an important food source for native Americans.
#bees #bugsky #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #plantsky #plants #flower

A yellow, orange and black bumblebee with a full pollen sac on its leg visits a rosemary blossom

I hope the bumblebee nymphs appreciate the rosemary infused pollen.
#bees #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #bugsky

Absolutely gorgeous!

Small bumblebee pokes its head up between two wood sorrel leaves.

Coming out of hiding? Actually, the bumblebees dive under the leaves to access the wood sorrel blossoms. Another favorite native plant.
#nature #naturephotography #plantsky #plants #bugsky #bees

Large purple iris bloom with yellow and black veins.

Douglas iris. We are enjoying growing native plants in our garden.
#flower #flowerreport #plantsky #nature #naturephotography

A bumblebee latches on to the underside of a pendant pink salmonberry blossom against a vibrant green background

A small bumblebee visiting a native salmonberry blossom.
#bugsky #wildlife #nature #bees #naturephotography #plantsky #plants #flower

Green tree frog with thin black stripe across his eyes sits among native strawberry vines

This little guy was helping me in the garden this morning.
#wildlife #nature #naturephotography

A male and female river otter pose side by side. The male has a long fish tail hanging from its mouth.

Ma and pa otter, only pa couldn’t stop eating long enough for a photo.
#nature #naturephotography #wildlife