Odds and ends...

When I do take some photos, I don't seem to get them posted.  So here are a bunch that I have taken over the past month all jumbled together.  We took a drive over to Henderson, KY to the "butterfly road".  In July, this gravel road seems to attract butterflies, so as Mike drives along, I get out and walk along and take photos.

 A couple of Hackberry Emperors.

There is a creek where we usually see some Jewelwing Damselflies.  This trip we only found the females which are not as deeply colored as the males.  The one above with wings partly open and below just sitting. 

A Silvery Checkerspot...I think. 

 Above, the closed view of the Question Mark and below with its wings open.  Quite a difference.

 A fairly ragged looking Red Admiral above and below another one.

The Red-spotted Purple Admiral .  Saw several of these, some in good shape and some very ragged. I guess that is the downside to hanging around on gravel roads. 

An American Snout.  I never seems to see them open.

 On a trip to Bluegrass FWA I admired the acres of Sunflowers and wished I could pick a few heads to take home with me.

I hope to get back out here soon and look for finches on the flowers. 

 In my own yard, I noticed that the tall Phlox was attracting a bunch of Tiger Swallowtail butterflies.

 I think these black swallowtails are the black female version of the Tiger.

A skink on the side of my house.   We are about to have a new roof put on....groan....and since my house is mostly shingles, that is a major undertaking.  Will probably make the skinks very unhappy with all the activity.

 At the wetlands we saw a large frog....

....and several little tiny ones. 

This muskrat was on the bank where he chomped this long piece of grass and then dragged it into the water to sit and eat it.  They also like to eat the duckweed on the water. 

At a local park a Sulphur butterfly 

 Some ducks on the lake.

 Eastern Tailed Blue

Widow Skimmer male.

I guess I had better stop....this is getting long.  I'll try not to take so long before posting more photos.

Up on the treetops and wires.....

It seems like most of the birds I saw and tried to photograph this week were way up over my head.  Not the best angle for shots!  However, I did see a lot of nice birds this way.

 At home, while sitting in the swing out front, I caught the movement of birds over head in the ash tree.  This little Red-bellied woodpecker was scooting around while waiting for dad to come feed him.  I could barely spot him, he blended in so well.

 Dad brings some food!

We also have several Downy woodpeckers constantly flitting in and out of the trees.  This little Downy was right over my head and splayed out his tail nicely for me.  I don't usually see those feathers when the Downy is on the suet.

At Mouteau Park, we found this Kingbird way at the top of a tree waiting to grab some insects.

 We drove down to Henderson, KY to the river-bottoms area and found this surprise!  Mike saw about 6 Egrets flying towards some trees and we were able to get close enough to get some photos of them perching in the treetops.  They really like the high spots :-)

... and on the wires overhead....a Dickcissel.

I finally found a Dicksisel down low, but didn't focus this very well.

 Another high wire lover....Indigo Bunting.

 On some dead trees in a swampy area, we saw this Swallow outside its nest.

 Tree Swallow

And finally....a few "critters" who like the low places instead of the high ones!  Several dragonflies were accommodating with their posing. 

 Eastern Pondhawk male

Amberwing 

Blue Dasher male 

 There were tiny frogs hopping all over the road in the puddles from a recent rain.

 Red Admiral

I love these wild roses, brambles, whatever they are called. 

 Silver-spotted Skipper

 One turtle in the road....

....and one crossing a field that was just plowed.