The seventh pole

A number on a utility pole in North Kohala, Hawaii

This is the seventh utility pole up Kapaau Road from the main highway through Kapaau. I’m not sure how much these numbers are used these days but, back in the day, they would have helped crews to quickly locate any particular pole. I bet there were books of maps with each pole marked on it.

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #40

A boat anchored off the beach at Anaehoomalu Bay in Hawaii
A Covid-year photo of a sailboat anchored off a deserted Anaeho’omalu Bay beach.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 161. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Also, seven photos posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

A Cliff Ladder used by fishermen on the North Kohala Coast, Hawaii
A ladder used by people fishing, to access a rugged shore.
Palm tree reflections at Place of Refuge in Hawaii
Palm trees reflect in one of the ponds at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
Empty parking places at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park during Covid restrictions
Another Covid-year shot, this time of the deserted road and parking area between Kilauea Iki trail and Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), two of the most popular places in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Goats drink from a pond at Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Goats take a drink at a pond in Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
Yuccas alongside the road to Kamuela, Hawaii
Yucca flowers blooming in Waimea.
A Large Orange Sulphur butterfly on Rose Jatropha flowers in Hawaii
A Large Orange Sulphur Butterfly feeding on Rose Jatropha flowers.

Seven springs

Seven coiled springs arranged to look like the number seven.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Autumn or Spring.’ See more responses here.

I’ve gone for Spring, seven of them, each with seven coils. I was going to pair it with something for Fall, but I couldn’t arrange a photo shoot with Humpty Dumpty.

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

Seven Nenes

Seven Nenes at Spencer Beach Park, Hawaii

I was down at Spencer Beach Park one recent morning, and the place was crowded with Nenes, 15 or more of them. It was tricky getting just seven in a shot, but this is the best of them. I believe they were drawn there by the park’s sprinkler system being in operation, as it often is at that time of day. Something to drink and assist with morning clean up, and fresh green grass for breakfast.

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

Seriously subdued spider in seven shocking scenes

A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.

At work recently, I was alerted to the presence of an odd wasp, with a ‘sac’ under its body, trying to get into a small hole in the window frame. I grabbed my camera, opened the window, and took photos.

It quickly became clear that the ‘sac’ was a spider, and not a tiny one either. What was less clear was whether the wasp would succeed in its quest. I assume the hole is a drainage outlet, but what the wasp was up to was less clear. A little research cleared that up.

  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.
  • A Yellow-legged mud-dauber Wasp stuffs a paralysed spider into a hole as future food for its offspring.

The wasp is a Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium). Not sure what kind of spider it is, but I do know its days are numbered. Sadly for the spider, it will not be a swift end. According to Wikipedia, “After building a cell of the nest, the female wasp captures several spiders. The captured prey are stung and paralyzed before being placed in the nest (usually 6-15 per cell), and then a single egg is deposited on the prey within each cell. The wasp then seals the cell with a thick mud plug. After finishing a series of cells, she leaves and does not return.” Notice that the spider is paralyzed, not dead. Got to have fresh food for the kids!

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.