Paul Lester Photo

A snack for the taking!

During my walk this morning, I noticed quite a few of these little caterpillars, or perhaps worms spinning webs from the branches of the tree, to the ground. I see them most every spring. They are called Spring Canker Worms, or inchworms, more commonly. They hang out in oak trees.

This morning, I was going to try to photograph one that was hanging in the sunlight. As I walked down the sidewalk, I noticed one, prepared my camera to the shot. I was about 30 or 40 yards away, perhaps. Suddenly, a robin swooped across the street, snagged it, and made a snack of it. I’d never seen that before. Growing up in Ohio, I was used to seeing Robins in the early morning gobbling up unsuspecting earthworms, but I’d never seen one take a snack on the fly! It was pretty cool.

I was able to find another one to take a photo of, but couldn’t get good focus because it was lightly breezy and this guys don’t weigh much, so they’re pretty much dangling and swaying in the breeze! None of the shots that I took were in focus, but it was fun anyway.