I've come to associate Mouteau Park with Meadowlarks. It is the one place I know that I can find them each year. It is also where I go to look for Kingbirds. It is interesting to me to know that certain birds and other critters frequent the same place all the time. This is also the park that I find Halloween Pennant Dragonflies, and in the spring we saw Kestrels there hunting regularly. It's a good spot of butterflies and dragonflies of all kinds around the edge of the lake.
They had recently mowed the grass in the part of the park where the Meadowlarks hang out and there were 3-4 of them there hunting for bugs.
They are always fairly far out in the meadow, so my photos are never close-ups, but I just love to watch them anyway.
We wondered if one or two of them were young ones....maybe this one?
They do love to sing! They were making a different sort of sound on this day and I tried to record it on a video, but it was drowned out by the car or other noises......more of a harsh clicking sound than their usual song.
Even though the sweat was dripping in my eyes, it was worth getting out to look for butterflies! We saw at least 5 kinds. The Buckeye was enjoying this white flower. I wish all butterflies would pose as easily as the Buckeye!
The Monarch is the opposite....I never seem to catch it with the wings open, especially when it is darting in and out of the grasses.
The Pearl Crescents are very small, but fairly easy to catch.
Looking at this photos....these may be at my house, but I did see a pair at the park, too. One seemed a lot bigger. I think the one on the left is the male.
Pretty sure this is the female looking at my guide book.
The lake at the park always has lots of dragonflies flitting around. Not sure what these two are...the top looks like a Blue Dasher, but the bottom one is too dark to tell. I often see Slaty Skimmers here, so maybe that is what it is.
As we were leaving I spotted a new butterfly! I think it is a Checkerspot! Since I don't know them, I will guess it is the Silvery Checkerspot, which is the one most common to my area.
There were several of them and all were torn up.
One of the better looking ones.
At first I thought they were the Pearl Crescents, but they are larger....otherwise, they seem very similar to me.
A pair!
This one seemed so sad with half of its wings torn away...how does it fly??? Those big wasps were enjoying the same flowers.
On a road along the backside of this park, we stopped to study the birds on the wires. Mike shot this......3 doves on the left.....9 blackbirds (?) of some sort on the right.
They had recently mowed the grass in the part of the park where the Meadowlarks hang out and there were 3-4 of them there hunting for bugs.
They are always fairly far out in the meadow, so my photos are never close-ups, but I just love to watch them anyway.
We wondered if one or two of them were young ones....maybe this one?
They do love to sing! They were making a different sort of sound on this day and I tried to record it on a video, but it was drowned out by the car or other noises......more of a harsh clicking sound than their usual song.
Even though the sweat was dripping in my eyes, it was worth getting out to look for butterflies! We saw at least 5 kinds. The Buckeye was enjoying this white flower. I wish all butterflies would pose as easily as the Buckeye!
The Monarch is the opposite....I never seem to catch it with the wings open, especially when it is darting in and out of the grasses.
The Pearl Crescents are very small, but fairly easy to catch.
Looking at this photos....these may be at my house, but I did see a pair at the park, too. One seemed a lot bigger. I think the one on the left is the male.
Pretty sure this is the female looking at my guide book.
The lake at the park always has lots of dragonflies flitting around. Not sure what these two are...the top looks like a Blue Dasher, but the bottom one is too dark to tell. I often see Slaty Skimmers here, so maybe that is what it is.
As we were leaving I spotted a new butterfly! I think it is a Checkerspot! Since I don't know them, I will guess it is the Silvery Checkerspot, which is the one most common to my area.
There were several of them and all were torn up.
One of the better looking ones.At first I thought they were the Pearl Crescents, but they are larger....otherwise, they seem very similar to me.
A pair!
This one seemed so sad with half of its wings torn away...how does it fly??? Those big wasps were enjoying the same flowers.
On a road along the backside of this park, we stopped to study the birds on the wires. Mike shot this......3 doves on the left.....9 blackbirds (?) of some sort on the right.
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7 comments:
Love your posts Mary been catching up
you asked about the sand bees.
its like everything else Mary being its very hot here now and the attire gets to be very flimsy sandals not shoes are worn shorts and the thinest of cotton shirts and of course a hat to keep the sun off the bald patch. to stop the brains frying, so yes I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFULL WHERE I walk. most of the walks are in sand I know the place looks green but that is the watered area all paths are sand based so have to be carefull all manner of things that will bite or sting here. The thing I worry about most is the scorpion and snakes, and to my dissapointment have yet to see a live species.
I dd try not to touch or catch any living thing, I get tempted sometimes to catch butterflies and dragons to take a good macro shot, but its all in the fun of getting a good shot and getting close up as one can get to inspect Gods wonderfull creation. the structure of the bugs and things is so amazing. three times I have resceud birds here just holding one of these tiny creatures is an amazing experience, the baby sparrow I saved from hanging itself with the string from its nest, I had several thawns in my skin from the fever tree two went septic. but did the sparrow give any gratitude, . but that was a beautiful experience after rescuing the bird holding it to make sure it was ok nothing broken etc. and letting it fly away.
Hi Mary, Great pictures of the meadowlark... That 2nd one is GREAT....
Also--fabulous butterfly pictures also... I have never seen a Checkerspot before. What a gorgeous butterfly... WOW!!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy
What a terrific post! I never see Meadowlarks here. Also, I seldon see a Buckeye butterfly and never see the checkered one. The picture of the Buckeye on the Queen Anne's Lace is perfect!
Tony: Thanks for the information! It's pretty neat to get to rescue a bird and hold it. Glad you could do that.
Betsy: Thanks..the checkerspot is new to me, too, so I hope I have the ID right.
Dorothy: I realy like Meadowlarks. I'm always happy to see them. The Buckeye is such a nice little butterfly and I've been seeing quite a few of them.
The Buckeye on the white flower is gorgeous.You get such lovely shots and I enjoy seeing them.
Blessings,Ruth
Ruth: I think the Buckeye has become my favorite butterfly.
Lovely photos of the butterflies! My favourite is the one on the Queen Anne's lace - the single butterfly, not the poor one with the shredded wing.
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