American Robin

American Robins are usually the first birds to start singing in the morning in my neighborhood. When I lived in DC, one would usually start singing shortly after midnight during the breeding season. Here, they start a little later, but usually well before dawn.

I never found a robin nest in my old neighborhood, but here I usually see one in the spring. The one below is in a bush just outside the front door and relatively close to the sidewalk. Despite having people passing close by, the nest is well hidden. It is hard to see unless a robin flies in or out. Even then, the nest structure is not easy to make out.

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Flower Beetles

This beetle is a Strangalia luteicornis. It was one of many beetles of this species crawling on the limbs of a flowering winterberry bush. Strangalia luteicornis is a common eastern beetle species, with a distinctive shape and markings. Like other members of its genus, adults of this species are often found around flowers, where they feed on nectar.

Some of these beetles were piled in a clump, as if they were struggling with each other.

Others were mating.

In some cases, more than two were involved in a mating session. I saw a few triple-decker mating groups. It is amazing that they can keep their balance in a position like that.

In the photo above, three are piled up, and a fourth looks like it wants to join. Three seemed to be the maximum number that would work, though. When more beetles got involved, the stack would usually fall apart.