cmcdivit

Thanks for your help with identifying this spider, Scott! It is definitely of the Argiope genus, but I think this one appears to be of the species trifasciata. The body on this one is not as bulbous and the black marking is not as pronounced as the aurantia.

Tree = Southern Live Oak? Moss = Spanish Moss?

After I've researched more, I actually think it resembles more a PMOW than the BTW sailor. Here is one reference I found on a blog that seems to fit:

"They [by-the-wind sailors] are tiny blue-coloured relatives of the Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalia), but instead of the float having a bladder, it has a flat disc with a diagonal sail."

I seem to recall the MOW bladder very plainly on mine, and I don't think it had the flat sail or the distinctive ring-pattern in it.

I only had the pleasure of seeing just this one. I would think it would be awesome seeing several together. This was the first and so far only dolphin I've seen in the wild. They're remarkable creatures.

Awesome photo! I love the contrast of the geometric reflection in the water.

She wasn't there when I went back later, so I'm hoping for the best, that she recovered and flew away! :)

Rebecca, you and your dad sound like quite a wonderful team!

Beautiful photos! I recently planted a few in my back yard and the first one is starting to bloom.

Thanks! This is a wonderful site.

My dog actually found the nest. Yikes! He started carrying it around the yard in his mouth, but I was able to rescue it from him. He hadn't broken the skin and didn't seem to harm it. I released it back at the nest and it crawled back in the hole with the others. I then constructed a 4-foot screen fence to enclose it against an existing chain link fence to protect it from my dog and other predators. They have managed to exist for almost three weeks now and are starting to leave the nest. I've been making the rounds in my yard before I let my dog out to potty.