Wetlands odds and ends from two walks.....

I have photos from a couple walks I haven't posted yet, so I will just lump them all together in this one post.

 I believe this is a Dainty Sulphur.......I have never seen one before.

 A few geese are staying on the creek right now.....bottoms up!

A Killdeer on the boardwalk

 I saw LOTS of Buckeyes yesterday!  At times there were 3-4 flitting about on these white flowers (Fleabane?)  They always look so pretty.

 This Goldfinch flew out of the flowers....where I'm sure it was gathering seeds...and sat on this stalk at the side of the path.  It watched me a long time, but wouldn't fly away until I finally had to walk past it.

 A Gray Hairstreak eating upside down in the clover.

 When I arrived this heron was on the railing of the boardwalk.  It didn't seem to want to leave, but as I kept getting closer, it finally walked down the boardwalk ahead of me and flew off into the shallow water.

 Always happy to find a Monarch and this one was in perfect condition.  They are heading south this time of year.  I haven't seen many so far.

 Lift off!  

This was the closest I got to an open shot :-)

 Hiding in the yellow flowers.  Their color compliments the butterfly very nicely.

 I just love that polka dot body!  It looks very fuzzy.

 An interesting moth.....I tried to identify it, but can't be sure.  Maybe a Cabbage Looper?  I have a little booklet of just Indiana butterflies and moths, but don't find the drawings helpful at times because they are never in the position that the actual butterflies or moths like to sit....more like drawings of ones that have been pinned to a board in open position.  I never see a moth open in that manner.

 A couple of Painted Ladies......there were dozens of them yesterday!  One clump of these little white daisy flowers had at least 4 Painted Ladies, 4 Buckeyes, a couple Sulphurs, some skippers, and the Monarch!  It was a very busy clump of flowers!

 A Clouded Sulphur

 2 Different Skippers.....dark one and light one

And an in-between colored one :-)

 A Common Checkered Skipper.....I think they are really pretty!

 This one moved constantly and the flower kept blowing up and down.....but that is a checkered White, I believe.  

And lastly, this mean Mantis has ripped a poor Buckeye butterfly in half and eaten it.  I guess Mantis have to eat, too.  I shooed another Buckeye away that landed right next to it, just in case it was still hungry.

I'll save my turtle shots for another post :-)