Last Walk

My last walk in the meadow before my vacation.

The first thing I spotted was this American Lady, which is a first one seen this summer.

A twelve-spotted skimmer was patrolling the brush pile.

Not to be outdone, this silver-spotted skipper found a nice high perch in the brush pile.

A Halloween pennant over the meadow.

A beautiful female eastern tailed-blue.

Seen near the wetland this must be a Delaware skipper.

Some before me tried to get Chicory to grow in the meadow, now it appears all on its own.

A painted skimmer, new for this year.

A song sparrow, seen over and over, but this is a lovely photo.

Maris Trail

The Maris Trail is our "rough" trail here at Foulkeways.

It begins just over this bridge.

This area just west of the bridge has an unprotected stream, and a large area that is kept in grass.  This should be allowed to revert to woodland.

The path here is grassy, which sometimes covers roots crossing the path.

But you may spot some berries along the way.

Or see a bird flitting out of sight, like this cardinal.

I encountered only one log across the path.  And there were no overhanging branches, as the Monday walking group had cleared the entire trail.  Thank you.

It is hard to believe that cars are whizzing by only 30 feet away.

When you spot the wheelbarrow you know that some hearty volunteer have been spreading wood chips on the path.

Here where the wood chips are, the walking is much easier.

Near where the lower Maris Trail joins the Loop Trail, it is seldom grassy, and can be muddy after a rain.  But it is a nice woodland trail.

At Last

At last yesterday I saw this lovely eastern tiger swallowtail.

Today there were at least three in the meadow-wetland.  Here is one on pickerel weed.

At last the sourwood is blooming and the bees have found it.

These little sachems should be abundant.

There are many damselflies, but they are not easy to photograph.  Here is a pretty bluet.

Spot something dark on the clover, and it is probably a duskywing.

Thought for sure I had spotted a new species, but this is a female blue dasher.  Those are the little blue dragonflies that you might see in the waterfall garden on your way to fitness.

And this is an immature blue dasher.

This is a new dragonfly, a spot-winged glider.  The 21st that I have identified at Foulkeways.

This spot-winged glider makes nine species seen this year.

Good-bye Helen

We have lost a number one photographer and a friend.  

Blue fungi.

Close to Home

I know the photo is poor, but it was delightful to see three woodpeckers at the same time.  Downy, hairy and red-bellied.

This is a tawny-edged skipper in my yard nectaring on the new blue butterfly bush.  Most of the buddleias were destroyed during the past winter.  Since the butterfly bush is reported to be environmentally damaging, I selected this butterfly bush as it is reported to be sterile.  It just doesn't seem to attract butterflies.

When I am out walking my 10,000 steps a day, I usually carry my binoculars and camera and water in that blue butterfly bag.  I did not realize it might also make a good pillow.

On My Walk

Walking down Perimeter Road I saw this Carolina Wren, and he was singing and singing.  I thought it would be a good opportunity for a small movie, but as soon as I changed the setting on the camera he decided it was time for preening.  No movie.

There seems to be only one loosestrife in the wetlands.  But the teasel in the meadow seems to be gone, and there is so much Canada thistle, a bad weed.

Tough job to get a photo of the clear-wing moth, as they are in constant motion, but here it is with a bee.

The male pondhawk is such a beauty.

Spotted this praying mantis in the grass.  It is half grown at this time.

A mated pair of cabbage whites.  There have been few butterflies to be seen this year.

Beautiful Weekend

A first for this year was this sighting of a band-winged meadowhawk.  This is a small dragonfly.

This photo shows you the bands in the wings.

Spotted this cicada killer near the herb gardens, but I haven't been aware of any cicadas yet.

This blue vervain has always been one of my favorite wildflowers.

Orange sulphur butterfly.  Also seen, but it did not pose for the camera was a Monarch.

Finally, a pearl crescent, usually a very common butterfly.

The pearl crescent above.

The silver-spotted skipper nectaring on the bee-balm.

This dragonfly was seen last week, but it is a new one for our wetland-meadow.  This is a slaty skimmer.

The yarrow, black-eyed Susans and the bee-balm make a beautiful show in the wetland, especially if you are sitting on the bench.

Recent sightings

Big and little out on the lawn at dusk.

This bright and beautiful daylily can be found near the bench overlooking the wetland.

This is NOT the multi-flora rose.

This beautiful little butterfly, a banded hairstreak, was found on the common milkweed, which is blooming in abundance in the meadow.  But where are all the swallowtail butterflys, and the monarchs?

If you see this tiny creature and think it is the smallest butterfly ever, it isn't.  It is a moth.

I have no ides what this bluebird was up to.  For several days I have heard the male singing and often from the top of the bird box.

I am calling this critter a ruby meadowhawk, which is a new dragonfly for our meadow and wetland.  It could be a Cherry-faced 
meadowhawk, or other, which cannot be told apart without examining the genitalia.

Also saw this female widow skimmer.