It was a beautiful day to be outside, so we took off for Peace Valley. Identification of this shrub stumped me, but I think it is a hop tree.
This bird was far away, and looked big enough to be an eagle, but with that yellow eye it must be a grackle.
Still blooming in the woods was this yellow iris.
I don't remember seeing these white posts in the water before. I assume this is designed as a boating limit to protect the wildlife.
This chickadee was spotted in the bird blind.
Also seen was this female rose-breasted grosbeak. And briefly there was a ruby-throated hummingbird, but too fast for my camera.
Always one of my favorites, the barn swallow.
They were making so much noise that I could hear this job being done down on Oak Path.
This appears to be an extension of the building for an ________.
All quiet here, does that mean this part is finished?
Some of the inside construction. This will be the new IT director's office.
Another view.
Meanwhile down in the meadow the swallows are still at the business of raising a family.
There was this bullfrog in the "M" puddle. And today there was a green frog on the concrete edge. If the green frog makes a leap into the water he may be lunch.
The first silver-spotted skipper of the season.
The used bluebird nest was pulled from the box, in hopes that the pair will nest again.
The first eastern pondhawk dragonfly of the season.
This female Zabulon skipper is as dark as the male is bright orange.
The coreopsis has started to bloom.
Here is a Peck's skipper on the ox-eye-daisy. The daisies are beginning to fade.
This damselfly is a variable dancer (Argia furnipennis). That ID took 6 minutes on Bug Guide. That is a valuable resource for me.
This song sparrow is usually singing from the top of a tree, but this afternoon was bath time.
I saw this snake as I started my afternoon walk, and I wasn't sure if it was sleeping or otherwise, but on my was home it had started to stretch out. Can you find the head and the tail? If you right click on the photo it will enlarge.
I had three and one-half inches in my rain gauge. The birds were really attracted to my feeders, mostly to the suet. Here is the downy woodpecker.
With that bigger bill, you can easily tell this is a hairy woodpecker.
A female red-bellied woodpecker does not have as much red on the head as the male has,
The blue jay was often intimidated by the hairy woodpecker.
The red-wing blackbird came for some peanuts.
The grackle did not stay for long at the suet.
The starling is smaller than the grackle, and lacks that yellow eye.
There were so many catbirds that I will have to replenish the suet. This one had a unique way of feeding.
The downy woodpecker was feeding its young. That's the father on the left.
And the hairy woodpecker feeds its young. That the father below, and the immature bird with the red patch on the forehead.
While walking in the woods, at almost every sunny spot it was possible to see these lovely damselflies, ebony jewelwings.
Also the female with her smokey wings.
They were often accompanied by Zabulon skippers.
But I only saw male Zabulons.
While in the wetland there were common whitetails.
A twelve-spotted skimmer on the string.
This Halloween pennent was on the brush pile.
A blue azure spotted in my garden.
My newest neighbor, a house wren singing away.
My first sighting for this afternoon was this lovely immature robin, following a male robin.
This is a great blue skimmer dragonfly. A new species for me, which the book says is a swamp dweller. But the puddle on Perimeter Road was apparently just the isolated pool that appealed to this pair.
This little blue dasher is a common sight in the wetland.
I heard then saw, this bluebird singing on top of the box. Are they planning a second nesting?
I last saw a common green darner on August 31st last year. Is this another migrating green darner, or will we see them throughout the summer.
This beautiful grass is located beside the meadow cafe.
Here is the female tree swallow sitting on the fence post.
While the male swallow guards the nest box. I guess it was Mom's break time.
The male whitetail dragonflies continue to patrol the pond.
A beautiful flower blooming in the wetland. I was unable to see the plant and I am unable to name the species.
Another flower blooming in the wetland. Any help with the ID would be appreciated.
