tfandre's Identifications

Milkweed Predator
Very smart predator. The milkweed blossoms attract tons of flies, bees, wasps, butterflies even before fully open. Not to mention aphids. Perfect place for an assassin to hang out.
SUNSET / BLOOD FLOWER Scarlet Milkweed (Asclepias Curassavica)
Id confirmed in bugguide here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2130057 @tfandre

This one is for the nymph
High Drama In The Lantana
Always drama to be found in my yard. This time it was an assassin bug nymph making a meal of a fly. The nymph has inserted its feeding tube into the anal opening of the fly, injected venom that liquifies the insides of the fly so that the nymph can suck it out while the fly is paralyzed.
Leafhopper Assassin Bug Nymph (Zelus renardii)
Flesh Fly (Family Sarcophagidae)
Id confirmed in bugguide here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2129656
@tfandre

White Rock lake, pool behind the lower spillway steps
Harold Always Wanted To Be A Tightrope Walker
This cormorant looked like it was walking a tightrope. With its wings out stretched, it was walking along a thin branch.

White Rock lake, Winfrey Point
Mama On Her Nest
Mama Western Kingbird brooding. She has used this same tree for her nest for 5 years now. Dad was standing guard nearby. Didn't realize the criss-crossing twigs were going to frame her eye like that.