Dragonflies and Damselflies

Dragonflies and Damselflies ... but first, a moth -- Virginia Ctenucha, a lovely creature that I've seen in several locations during recent perambulations ...

Virginia Ctenucha

Virginia Ctenucha

Next, a brief sampling of recent dragonflies ... Slaty Skimmer and Widow Skimmer ...

Slaty Skimmer

Widow Skimmer

 ... and a damselfly, the Ebony Jewelwing ...

Ebony Jewelwing

Closing out this post are three damselflies - which also illustrate the challenges of these almost imaginary insects.

The first is a Marsh Bluet - probably - since according to Lam's "Damselflies of the Northeast," this species is nearly identical to 3 other species and can only be reliably identified by examining the shape of male 's cerci - and that requires netting it, then using a magnifying glass.

Marsh Bluet (? probable or ? possible)

The next 2 can be identified in the field with binoculars or a camera and I am reasonably certain on the IDs: Northern Bluet and Aurora Damsel:

Northern Bluet

Aurora Damsel

Hope you can get outside and enjoy the wonders of the season.

 

Youngsters

It is that delightful time of the year when birds are nesting, fledging, feeding, and finding their way. Here's a sample, first from the backyard, and beginning with a handsome portrait of a young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak ...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (juvenile male)

Lots of feeding is going on - Evening Grosbeak and Tufted Titmouse are just two of many. And many more still hoping for a free handout, such as the fledgling Red-winged Blackbird, who was ignored despite its persistent complaints ...

Evening Grosbeak

Tufted Titmouse

Red-winged Blackbird

This young Northern Cardinal has just about gotten the problem of food figured out ...

Northern Cardinal

 Elsewhere around the area, young Hooded Mergansers were in the Wilson Wetlands in Putney ...

Hooded Mergansers

... and in the upper elevations of Somerset, many songbirds were busy feeding fledglings, but unfortunately did not come within camera range.

Barely within camera range, and probably caring less about the birds and the bees (at least for the next few months) was this Black Bear in the wet grasses of a large beaver pond ...

Black Bear

Good Birding!!

Siskin, Racket-tail, Checkerspot, et al

Pine Siskins are usually seen Spring, Winter, and Fall, as they wander to and from northern breeding grounds, but with the late spring, this year, they have been around sporadically. Possibly a few pairs are or have been breeding. This one visited me on July 3 ...

Pine Siskin

Earlier on the 3rd, I saw my first Common Whitetail of the year ...

Common Whitetail

"Leftover" dragonflies from recent excursions include the Racket-tailed Emerald and the Dot-tailed Whiteface (Essex Co, Vt.)

Racket-tailed Emerald

Dot-tailed Whiteface

 "New" butterflies in my photo achives are the Little Wood-Satyr, the Atlantis Fritillary   (Dummerston, VT) and the Baltimore Checkerspot (Putney, VT), a beauty deserving more than one photo ...

Little Wood-Satyr

Atlantis Fritillary

Baltimore Checkerspot

Baltimore Checkerspot

Finally, a walk through the butterfly garden in my backyard has provided regular sightings of the Great Spangled Fritillary ...

Great Spangled Fritillary

Great Spangled Fritillary

Whatever you encounter, take time to appreciate it.

A Busy Day in the Yard

This afternoon alternated between heavy showers and golden sunshine, and the yard was as busy as ever. At least two dozen species (maybe three dozen) nest in our immediate neighborhood, and most of those make regular visits to our bird feeders. I sat on the back porch and watched the show! Hardly a pause in the activity ... a captivating way to spend an afternoon.

Here is just a sample ...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - immature male

Mourning Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Evening Grosbeak

Northern Cardinal

Purple Finch

 

American Goldfinch

Gray Catbird

White-breasted Nuthatch waits its turn - Evening Grosbeak (female)

It is a BIRD Feeder!! What do you not understand about BIRD FEEDER?

Good Birding !!