(My scheduled posts are still not posting at the right time)
I could go to the Howell wetlands every day and be perfectly happy. Always something new to see. This first photo is actually one of the last that I took, but the strangest.
It wasn't until I had it on the computer that I saw the discarded exoskeletons on the stick under this Amberwing Dragonfly. I didn't know they shed their skins.....or are they just old dead dried up ones? Interesting, whatever they are! (NOTE: Both Tom and Eve explain what these are in the comment section...thanks to both of you!)
Here, you can see it better and there were a couple more on the same stick.
I always like these green dragonfly females.
The water in the marsh is now covered with these yellow flowering plants. The leaves are really chewed up by something.
While looking at the flowers I saw something begin to move through them......
.....dark heads sneaking along in a line.
A family of 12 ducks.......I think a female Mallard in the lead. No male in sight.
They swam out to the edge of the weeds and started eating the plants.
3 Killdeer on the far side of the lake
In the meadow, these white flowers were attracting a wide assortment of bugs and bees and such. This one was beautiful, but I kept wondering it it would sting me and kept my distance!
Later I found this very tiny white butterfly. If you look closely it has striped antenae and striped legs. Rather pretty, but it would not open its wings for me! It is on a poison ivy leaf if that gives you an idea of the size....very small.
A rather lethal looking wasp. Later I saw a different kind that had yellow antenae, but it kept going under the leaves and I never got a good photo.
Mike took this photo of a web.......
....while I shot its owner. I never seem to be able to focus on the web and he did it very well.
That strange "bubble" is a turtle ducking its head just as I took the photo.
A pretty "puffer".
We always called this plant Nicotiana, but I don't really know if that is what it is.
It wasn't until I had it on the computer that I saw the discarded exoskeletons on the stick under this Amberwing Dragonfly. I didn't know they shed their skins.....or are they just old dead dried up ones? Interesting, whatever they are! (NOTE: Both Tom and Eve explain what these are in the comment section...thanks to both of you!)
Here, you can see it better and there were a couple more on the same stick.
I always like these green dragonfly females.
The water in the marsh is now covered with these yellow flowering plants. The leaves are really chewed up by something.While looking at the flowers I saw something begin to move through them......
.....dark heads sneaking along in a line.
A family of 12 ducks.......I think a female Mallard in the lead. No male in sight.
They swam out to the edge of the weeds and started eating the plants.
3 Killdeer on the far side of the lake
In the meadow, these white flowers were attracting a wide assortment of bugs and bees and such. This one was beautiful, but I kept wondering it it would sting me and kept my distance!
Later I found this very tiny white butterfly. If you look closely it has striped antenae and striped legs. Rather pretty, but it would not open its wings for me! It is on a poison ivy leaf if that gives you an idea of the size....very small.
A rather lethal looking wasp. Later I saw a different kind that had yellow antenae, but it kept going under the leaves and I never got a good photo.
Mike took this photo of a web.......
....while I shot its owner. I never seem to be able to focus on the web and he did it very well.
That strange "bubble" is a turtle ducking its head just as I took the photo.
A pretty "puffer".
We always called this plant Nicotiana, but I don't really know if that is what it is.It was so good to get out and not melt while walking around! There was actually a breeze blowing part of the time! Yeah!
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12 comments:
Mary- I believe what you are seeing are the exuviae of both dragons and damselflies. When the nymphs are ready to become adults, they climb out of the water and onto twigs, logs, grass, etc. The adults emerge and leave the exoskeleton of their nymph stage behind.
Tom
I enjoyed your pictures today. I hardly ever get to see any of these.
Hi Mary, Your white butterfly (according to Leedra) is a Cabbage White Butterfly. She featured them on a recent post.
I haven't heard of white Weigalia---so I have no idea whether is's a cousin of the Jasmine.
Hope you have a great day.
Love,
Bets
I think you got some wonderful pictures at the wetlands. I like the row of ducks moving through the plants.
Lovely! Are those mallards walking or swimming through all those plants?
Your dragonflies are really lovely. I really like that green one. That blue and black bug did look fierce, just as well you kept your distance I think! I think that small butterfly must be some kind of blue maybe? I don't know what that last flower is, but its pretty. It reminds me of the flower on potato plants.
Tom beat me to the explaining of the dragonfly exuviae...(don't ask me to pronounce it Mary!!) The larva climb out of the water and shed their skin and WaLa! One dragonfly! It can be a very dangerous task.
I'm going to guess your butterfly is a summer azure. It's in the Spring Azure Complex. I found one in my yard the other day. Very tiny!
Thank you everyone for your comments! Especially thanks to Tom and Eve for explaining about exuviae of dragonflies. Learned something!
What a fascinating series of photos.The White Butterfly is pretty all dressed in stipes.
Blessings,Ruth
Don't know that butterfly. Would have never seen the turtle if you had not pointed it out.
Super collection Mary. I love every one of them! I only wish we had someplace like Howell.
Love the submerged turtle.
Still haven't seen many Dragonflies.
B.
Mary: What a beautiful show, I don't know how I've been missing these.
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