It was good to get out to the wetlands yesterday. We haven't been for a week or more.
One Great Blue Heron was stalking the edge of the marsh area.
The front view is really not very attractive! I guess we all have our "good sides"...and this isn't it. Always make me think of a Thanksgiving turkey with really big drumsticks.
He looked ready for a strike, but we never saw him catch anything.
By this time we were around where the sun was behind him and I liked the color in this shot.
A couple Canada Geese were doing the synchronized "bottoms up" feeding thing.
Mrs. Mallard was further around the boardwalk and I kept waiting for her to fly away.
I thought she was going to let me walk right past her....
.....But she finally went in the water....must have been Mike coming behind me that scared her :-) I would have wondered if something was wrong with her, if I hadn't seen her fly over to the edge.....
....where her rather large young ones were hanging out with the geese.
Prothonotary Warblers are so funny. They "veep, veep, veep" real loudly so you know exactly what tree they are in, and then hide behind the leaves so you can barely find them! This one went into that hollow tree in the water where we saw them building a nest early in the spring, but never came back out while we waited patiently.
On the way back we saw it again. Peeking over the leaves....maybe it doesn't know that it is bright yellow and fairly easy to spot when you know which tree it is in :-)
There were a lot of these Common Whitetail females flitting about in the meadow area. I only saw one male and didn't get a good shot of it.
The usual Blue Dashers were around by the dozens laying eggs in the water. The male posed here.
One of the female dragonflies in the meadow area.
Queen Anne's lace....always pretty.
Have to show a bug or two in case Joan is reading this :-)
A bit of water pooling in the leaves.
3 bugs on this plant!
These photos make it seem that there is a great variety of flowers in the meadow. A couple years ago, there were. But we only saw a lot of white flowers yesterday with a very occasional plant of some other sort mixed in. I think they must have just seeded the meadow the first year we saw it and now it is high grasses that the flowers can't get through. I'm sure the birds like the high grass, but the flowers don't.
This very small purple flower was in one sort of bare spot....just a handful of them.
Only saw a couple of these.
One Great Blue Heron was stalking the edge of the marsh area.
The front view is really not very attractive! I guess we all have our "good sides"...and this isn't it. Always make me think of a Thanksgiving turkey with really big drumsticks.
He looked ready for a strike, but we never saw him catch anything.
By this time we were around where the sun was behind him and I liked the color in this shot.
A couple Canada Geese were doing the synchronized "bottoms up" feeding thing.
Mrs. Mallard was further around the boardwalk and I kept waiting for her to fly away.
I thought she was going to let me walk right past her....
.....But she finally went in the water....must have been Mike coming behind me that scared her :-) I would have wondered if something was wrong with her, if I hadn't seen her fly over to the edge.....
....where her rather large young ones were hanging out with the geese.
Prothonotary Warblers are so funny. They "veep, veep, veep" real loudly so you know exactly what tree they are in, and then hide behind the leaves so you can barely find them! This one went into that hollow tree in the water where we saw them building a nest early in the spring, but never came back out while we waited patiently.
On the way back we saw it again. Peeking over the leaves....maybe it doesn't know that it is bright yellow and fairly easy to spot when you know which tree it is in :-)
There were a lot of these Common Whitetail females flitting about in the meadow area. I only saw one male and didn't get a good shot of it.
The usual Blue Dashers were around by the dozens laying eggs in the water. The male posed here.
One of the female dragonflies in the meadow area.
Queen Anne's lace....always pretty.
Have to show a bug or two in case Joan is reading this :-)
A bit of water pooling in the leaves.
3 bugs on this plant!
These photos make it seem that there is a great variety of flowers in the meadow. A couple years ago, there were. But we only saw a lot of white flowers yesterday with a very occasional plant of some other sort mixed in. I think they must have just seeded the meadow the first year we saw it and now it is high grasses that the flowers can't get through. I'm sure the birds like the high grass, but the flowers don't.
This very small purple flower was in one sort of bare spot....just a handful of them.
Only saw a couple of these.It was a nice walk.....but very hot and muggy.
Typical southern Indiana at this time of year.
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14 comments:
Peek-a-boo and bottoms up good stuff!! Queen Anne Lace are so beautiful and I always love that little dot of color in the center and the fact that is purple or pink!! Great Dragonfly photos they are fascinating!!
Mary,thanks for allowing me to join you on this walk. The Heron is beautiful,but, as you say,only from the right angle.Love the Queen Ann's :ace,it is exquisite.
Hope your day is filled with lots more beauty.
BLessings,Ruth
A lovely post, Mary, with so many interesting things you and Mike found. I really like that little Prothonotary Warbler.
I agree with Lindy, a lovely post with lots of variety Mary. I felt like I was there walking round with you. Thanks!
Do you have to wear bug spray when you hike out in the wetlands this time of year? I remember a couple of years ago when I was out-of-town, George did some hiking in the woods. He got the worst case of chigger bites he has ever had!!!!!
Great photos--all of them... I especially like seeing the Mallard... You did get near her didn't you?
Have a nice weekend, Mary.
Hugs,
Betsy
I love your peeping warble - so cute!! And you're right about the herons - they look best from a side profile - lol!!
That first Dragonfly is quite amazing Mary.
What a very enjoyable walk Mary. I love just everything especially that head-on shot of the heron. I've never ever seen this angle.
B.
Of course "Joan is reading this" and loving the bugs!! :) the Queens Anne Lace does seem to attract a variety of species and a great shot of the three bugs in one. :).
I especially like that white-tail dragonfly Mary. It is so different to what we have here.
Grammie G: I think I notice the little things more when there isn't too much happening :-)
Ruth: Queen Anne's Lace really is pretty and so many just see it as a "weed"....of course if you are allergic, its no fun.
Lindy: It's a very pretty little warbler and I'm glad I've gotten better at spotting him, now that I know what he sounds like.
Jenny: I was just thankful that my knees felt better and I got some walking around done.
Betsy: Actually, we don't use bug spray at the wetlands. It is mostly boardwalks and fairly wide paths....not going through tall weeds or dense woods. The mallard really surprised me that it just sat there.
Shelley: Herons are so stately and beautiful from the side, it just really jolts you when you see them head on.
Roy: Thanks! They were flitting so fast, I didn't think one would ever sit still long enough for a decent photo, but there were a half dozen or so to choose from so I got lucky.
Becky: Thanks! They are such interesting birds any time or angle.
Joan: You must have commented while I was writing the last comment! I meant to add your link to the "Joan" and forgot...sorry about that "Bug Lady" :-) I do always think of you when I take bug photos.
I love the photos. It's like I got to take the walk with you.
An Arkies Musings
The herons in your area must be well fed! I've never seen a heron that "thick" around here. Wow!
Great shots!
Wow! You got a lot of great shots of the Blue Heron....enjoyed the others also.
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