09-MAY-2012
Monarch butterfly workshop
Another shot of the monarch butterfly workshop held at the FWG
09-MAY-2012
Monarch butterfly workshop
Another view showing the hard working group of monarch butterfly enthusiasts at the FWG
09-MAY-2012
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on burdock leaf
Couldn't let May go by without at least one red admiral photo. The day was overcast and drizzly, but mild at about +17, so there were a few butterflies out and about between rain showers.
09-MAY-2012
Song sparrow on burdock
This sparrow was picking at these seed heads for quite a long time. These plants, in both flower and seed, are attractive to various insects and birds. Sadly, it is often a fatal attraction. There have been numerous reports of birds caught by the seed heads and unable to fly away. Insects too, can become caught. I've found moths who have landed on the seed heads, unable to fly away. If they are still alive I have untangled them, a very slow chore as you can imagine, for fear of damaging the wings.
09-MAY-2012
Great blue heron
Actually, this was in the Arboretum, but along the stream that runs down from the FWG and into this area. The heron was very intent on fishing and paid little attention to the various people passing by.
09-MAY-2012
Red-winged blackbird nest-building 1
I spent a long time watching with no small degree of admiration, the work of this female blackbird as she built her nest. I didn't see the beginning of the nest, as she'd already built the base before I came along. She made repeated forays from the nest, returning after about 6 minutes, with a mouth full of long fibres, as here. Then she spent about 5 minutes weaving them around the cattail stalks securing the nest.
09-MAY-2012
Red-winged blackbird nest-building 2
Here, the female is poking her head through the cattail stems and pulling tight the long fibre she had first pushed out on the left side of the stalks. She then pulled it into the interior of the nest, and out again, repeating the 'binding' motion.
09-MAY-2012
Red-winged blackbird nest-building 3
In this photo, the female is pulling along another strand of fibre and weaving it around the cattail stems. She would take about 4 to 5 minutes to do this, then head off to gather more fibres, a chore that took on average, about 6 minutes. Each time she returned, she flew straight into the nest, nowhere near as wary as some birds who are very secretive about their nest construction.
09-MAY-2012
Yellow warbler
Despite the overcast conditions with rain in the morning, it was humid and mild, and birds were singing all over. Eastern kingbirds, Baltimore orioles, least flycatchers, yellow warblers, black-throated green warblers, etc. are all back and singing and making much ado.
08-MAY-2012
Yellow-rumped warbler
Fortunately for me, this little guy landed right in front of me, posed and preened and allowed a few shots, before heading off. Always one of the first warblers to arrive and the last to leave in autumn.
08-MAY-2012
Green frog (Rana clamitans)
This individual was in the Backyard Garden pond, along with about 5 others, several of whom, including this one, were calling.
08-MAY-2012
Green heron
Late afternoon, and two green herons showed up at the pond. How many years have we been seeing these lovely little herons at the FWG? Fifteen? Twelve? I can't remember, but they have been a regular feature annually, often in mid-summer, arriving with their young, to the detriment of the frog population in the pond. This one broke off a twig and flew away with it, and the other had caught a very big frog and was busy trying to figure out how to eat it. Poor old frogs, they're vulnerable now as it is breeding season and the urge to call and be visible is strong. The frog was either a green frog, or an American toad.