Hot Shots, July 2014

Gary Yarbrough of Canonsburg noticed this new "housing development" while taking a hike at Wingfield Pines, off Mayview Road.

Robin Seeber of West Alexander took this photo of a very photogenic lorakeet at the Oglebay Good Zoo near Wheeling.

Dennis Gould took this photo of a chipmunk resting on a (fortunately) fake alligator by his bird feeder.

Mindy Mercer took this photo of an iridescent cloud at her home in Canton Township. She says the colorful display is rare and occurs when water droplets scatter light.

Stephen Ezarik took this photo of a hawk that has been preying on other birds and rodents in his yard in Scenery Hill. Stephen said the hawk has been around for a number of years and keeps birds and squirrels on high alert.

Jeff Filby of Bridgeville spotted this turtle sunning itself on a log while he was on a walk along the Ohio River near Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh.

Carol Brunetti of McMurray took this photo of a soggy-bottomed baby robin who was having a very bad day. She says it appeared he was making his first flight, which ended on top of a swimming pool cover. Both parents were coaxing the youngsters to fly, but he had to be rescued with a net and released into the grass.

Traci Sims took this photo of gathering clouds over her family's farm in Lone Pine on a day when the area was under a tornado watch.

Lisa Lane of Canonsburg took this photo of a robin resting on a wire while fetching a meal for his little ones.

Cathy Mohney of North Franklin Township took this photo of Magens Bay in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, from a lookout on a mountain road that winds its way down to the beach.

Robin Seeber took this close-up of a skipper butterfly and ants on a thistle.

Robin Seeber of West Alexander, who raises butterflies, took this photo of her first black swallowtail of the year, on a sweet fennel plant.

Brook Ward took this photo of a sunflower reflected in droplets of water.

Nick White took this photo of a bee on a butterfly bush at his home in Canonsburg.

Kerry Pigeon spotted this cow and her calf on Dan Hughes' farm in Scenery Hill.

Gary Yarbrough of Canonsburg says this was just one of many "awesome sunsets" he enjoyed on a recent trip to Presque Isle in Erie.

Kerry Pigeon of Scenery Hill took this photo of a family of geese, with one of the parents urging the seventh gosling to get a move on, at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.

"Is it safe to come out yet?" That might be what this frog was wondering as he was spotted by Cathy Mohney of North Franklin Township while peeking out from under a lilypad following a recent round of showers.

Jocelyn Scears took this close-up of a praying mantis while on her lunch break at the 84 Lumber Sign Shop in Eighty Four. She says the mantis was quite captivated by her camera.

"And the home ... of the ... braaaaaave!" It only seems like this baby bird is belting out the national anthem in front of an American flag, but Erica Jestat-Garrison of Washington thought it made for quite the patriotic scene.

Karen Duke took this photo of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and a cargo ship against the setting sun while sailing back to the port of Baltimore.

Guess we shouldn't be surprised that a horse took a liking to a ponytail. Sandy Thomas took this photo of her niece, 9-year-old McKenna Thomas of Washington, while the two were in Westfield, N.Y., to gather pictures from Amish country.

"Can Carol come out to play?" Carol Brunetti took this photo of a turkey that came "knocking" at the front door of her McMurray home.

Nick White spotted this Eastern-eyed click beetle while weeding recently.

Brook Ward took this expansive photo of the Grand Canyon.

Wendy Hopwood found these baby bunnies nesting in her vegetable garden. Appropriately, they had taken up residence in her carrot patch.

Sandy Thomas took this photo of a passion flower in her neighbor's yard in Washington.

Kerry Pigeon took this photo of a mama turkey keeping watch over her little ones on a sunny morning in Scenery Hill.

Becky Ross took this photo of Ross Snedeker enjoying an evening walk in Peters Lake Park as a family of ducklings drifted by.

Diana Morris took this photo of an interesting-looking sunset.

Karlene Petrisek took this photo while aboard the Alaskan Railroad between Seward and Anchorage.