Bugs, bunnies, butterflies, birds and more

We stumble across the coolest creatures here: giant stick bugs, millipedes and centipedes (I love the Spanish word for centipede -- ciempies --  a direct translation with an interesting modification in consonants), butterflies, frogs, flowers, and birds. Unfortunately, the Seek App requires steadier hands and more obedient creatures than we are oft able to detain, but even if we cannot name their genus or family, these natural wonders are still cool to observe.

Check out a few photos.

Yup, that is a stick bug on Dillon's face!
These are the most interesting creatures, stick bugs (phasmids), the biggest insects in the world. They can grow up to 2-feet long. This guy was particularly friendly.
Frog and Toad: this little toad found his way into a tub of rainwater we had been collecting out front for times when our water runs out.

Frog and Toad: a loud frog.
One of Brynna's goals for the year: to catch a butterfly herself. It's not an easy goal to accomplish, but the butterfly net Gwen sent is helping her get closer!
We lovingly call this the "La Josefina" butterfly. They are everywhere here.

These giant beetles are EVERYWHERE. It's hard to tell how big this guy is in the photo, but he is about as big as a table spoon.
A toad we came across in the sunshine of Cotopaxi National Park
The difference between a millipede and a centipede is the number of legs per segment (2/segment for millipedes, 1/segment for centipedes). This is a millipede w saw on a hike.
Sandy found this injured bird (a boat-billed flycatcher) in the road coming into La Josefina. We did our best to care for him, but he died a couple of hours later. 
The Boat-billed flycatcher
Our good friends, a pair of hook-billed kites, continue to nest and live right around our house. This is the female (to the L) and the male (to the R) sharing a snail in the dead tree by our house.

We also continue to be totally in love with our pets, and we have BIG news!!!

Crema, our beloved bunny, has been a busy boy. He is now the proud papá of two litters of baby bunnies! The first mamá, Manchitas, gave birth in late January to five deliciously soft and sweet white bunnies. They have all been rehomed, except for one cutie pie, Mora, who stayed with her mamá. 

The second mamá, Diablita, belongs to our neighbor and my honorary fourth child, Leandry. Leandry is psyched that his bunny gave birth to six baby bunnies this week, so excited, in fact, that he came running over at the crack of dawn to give me the good news. The conejitos are still too small to touch, so pictures will have to come later. 

I am happy to report that Crema,  also known by Brynna as "the cutest bun bun in the entire world" is being a responsible father and reconociendo sus hijos without hesitation. This is a term used for men officially acknowledging their paternity by bestowing their children their last names. In Ecuador (as in Mexico), everyone has two last names, one maternal and one paternal, as long as their father has officially recognized them. 





In other news, Sherman, our nine-month-old pet chicken, is currently sitting on a load of eggs. She will likely be a mamá within the next two weeks. We will let you know how that goes! Last I heard, she was having second thoughts about this motherhood idea.
Sherman atop her eggs. 






















Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 12, 2023 at 6:50 PM

    Sherman the Chicken. Pronouns?
    Love all the critter shots, save the centipede/millipede. Don't they bite or have poison or something? And love the stick bug ! 2 feet long !! FB

    ReplyDelete

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