Identificaciones de tfandre

Found A New Kind Of Bee
Went on a little nature walk with my daughter & 2 of my grandkids. The eleventh thing we saw turned out to be a new kind of bee for me. A cute native leafcutter bee with the habit of sticking its butt up. Enjoying the nectar of native sunflowers.
Male Leafcutter Bee (Megachile policaris)
Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
ID confirmed in bugguide here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2156186 @tfandre

New for me. It was on the side of my daughter's house. She lives on a couple of acres of rural land.

ID confirmed in bugguide here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2143812 @tfandre @sambiology @williamedwards

Weird Little Bug
This guy was not cooperating, running all over a large rock. I finally got a side shot before it tumbled over the edge and off into the grass and out of sight. First adult of this species I've photographed, had seen one nymph prior. Maybe because they are a nocturnal stink bug. Love the name, Elf Shoe. Look at that one black toe on the end of each foot.
Id confirmed in bugguide here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2095397 @tfandre

One Eleven Ranch Park
Grasshopper Camo
Every inch of this grasshopper nymph blends in with either the green grass blades beside it or the sparkly dirt under it. I never saw it until it jumped in front of me. Was able to get this shot before it jumped further away.
nymph
Id confirmed in bugguide here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2134273 @tfandre

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.