At Mouteau Park....

I decided to try a different park on Thursday.  I usually see some butterflies and dragonflies at Mouteau Park that I don't see at Hartman Arboretum.

I was thrilled to find a Monarch and didn't even notice the caterpillar when I was taking photos of the butterfly. 

After it flew away, Mike noticed the caterpillar....there were actually 4 on this Swamp Milkweed plant.  I believe that black thing is caterpillar "poop" called frass.

Catching the sun.

I think this is the head (I can't tell one end from the other when I am looking at these Monarch caterpillars).  Looks like it is munching on the flowers.

Another shot of the butterfly.

Caterpillar and Monarch again.

This Buckeye butterfly chased the Monarch away!  It likes the Swamp Milkweed, too.

Basking in the sun.

Blue Dasher male

This was one of the dragons I went looking for.  Usually there are a bunch of these Halloween Pennants here, but I only saw this one that was very torn up.

There were many Widow Skimmer males and they were chasing each other and every other dragonfly around.  Very aggressive!

Another shot of it.

When we arrived and when we left this Mockingbird was on this fence.  I guess it is his "guard" spot.