Walking at the wetlands, Part 1........

We went to Howell Wetlands the other day and saw so many nice things, that I am splitting this into at least 2 posts.

 My first and favorite thing, was this Green Heron.  

It was way up on top of a dead tree, but I was happy to get shots of it even from a rather "underneath" view.

"Bird Gone"......one of my most common shots usually :-)  

This was actually my first shot of it.  It was on a low snag in the creek when I saw it, but as soon as I pointed it out to Mike and started to take a photo (should have done that in the reverse order) it leaped into the air and I thought it was gone for good.  But fortunately, it went to that higher dead tree and stayed long enough for some better photos.

 Crossing the first boardwalk we were following a Killdeer.....and I just like the boardwalk view.

"Would you stop following me!!"

 We saw lots of bees on the flowers in the meadow area.  

 A smaller bee on the yellow flowers.

 I would say this is a young blackbird of some sort, but not sure which one.  There were young mockingbirds, and robins hanging around, too.

 A very large black fly of some sort on the rail.

Eastern-tailed Blue.

I love the color of the Eastern Pondhawk male dragonfly......sort of a blue and green mix.

 Later we found one having "lunch" on the railing....yuck....but interesting!

 They look so vicious when they are eating something!  I always think they look like some sort of robotic monster up close when you study the wing attachment and the general appearance.  Straight out of a Sci-Fi movie.

 Mockingbird on the roof of the observation platform

 Another one leading us up the garden path :-)

 I don't know the name of these flowers....will have to look in the wildflower book.  Whatever they are the bugs and bees love them.

Mixed in with some yellows...... there are several kinds of  yellow flowers blooming in the meadow right now.  I've never tried to identify them all.  The kind shown in my second bee photo doesn't have a dark center and grow really tall.

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Tiny frogs, turtles, butterflies and flowers in Part 2.

More recent backyard wildlife.....

The weather has been rather pleasant lately, so I have spent more time outside.

 This Buckeye butterfly was sunning itself on the driveway.

 It's hard to hide when you are bright red, but Mr. Cardinal was trying his best :-) 

 Chickadee trying to get the sunflower seeds from the ball feeder.

 Two Mourning Doves in the tray feeder......they usually stay on the ground.

 Tried to decide if this was a young Hairy or a young Downy.....the bill seems rather long, so I'd say Hairy.

 A House Sparrow youngster on the frog fountain.

 I think these are the only Hummingbird shots I have gotten so far this year!

 A very pale Phlox in the front garden.  I don't remember having this color before, but like it.

 Your House Sparrow looking for food.

 Silver Spotted Skipper on the honey vine.

The Tiger Swallowtail decided to try the lilies.

 A Cardinal family gleaning the seeds under the feeder.....a youngster

 .....and the parents

This Titmouse was getting frustrated trying to get an old peanut out of the feeder.....another youngster.  I'm seeing lots of young birds of all kinds at the moment, which means there have been plenty of successful nests this year!

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I've been trying to put out less seed because the other night I had a whole family of raccoons....mom and 3 young.....plus a skunk...... out looking for food under the feeders!  I don't need that many varmints hanging around the house!  I want to feed the young birds and their parents, but 4 raccoons is about 3 too many.  It is too much trouble to take the feeders in at night, so I try to guess how much will be eaten and control the spillage.

Goldfinches, and butterflies and sunflowers.....

........they just all seem to go together this time of year!  Lots of yellow out there.

 I watched this female Goldfinch eating the sunflower seeds out of this head for probably an hour.  She ought to be the world's fattest Goldfinch!  She just kept systematically working her way around the edge of the sunflower.

 She was so pretty and I was enjoying taking photos of her.

 I know I post way too many photos....but I enjoy the different angles and backgrounds.

 The neighbor's red brick house was giving an interesting background color to the scene.

 A bit of wing flutter for balance.

 "hmmmmm.....which seed do I want next?"

The male decided he should get to have some seeds, too. 

 The same sunflower head, but the background is dark and green now.  I think  these were standing up and the others I was sitting down :-)

 "You did put this here just for me, didn't you???"

Look how orderly she removes the seeds.

 "Greedy little pig.....would be nice if she would share some more with me."

 Her yellow color is sort of olive, but brighter then in the winter time.

 All around this pole, I have Black-eyed Susan's growing and today there were actually butterflies out there on them!  This American Lady butterfly stopped by briefly.

 A spot of orange in a sea of yellow.

 And a Tiger Swallowtail stopped by to check out the sunflowers.

 A bit tattered....but still pretty.

There must have been two different ones, because this one has perfect wings and more blue (indicating it is a female).