Chimney

The swifts have pretty much finished migrating through.  But here is a chimney built especially for them.  Every year birders come to watch the birds swirl into the chimney.

 

Great Egret

A great egret was hiding in the pond.

He decided we were too close, and took off.

 

More Yellow

Another favorite yellow flower, Goldenrod.

 

Yellow

Another field of yellow flowers.  These are Yellow Crownbeard.  They always look messy because the petals are all askew.

 

Last of the flowers

Lady's Thumb in front, Goldenrod in the background.

Sweet Everlasting 

Climbing Hempweed.

Calico Aster.

 

Nut?

This interesting fruit is filled with air.  

It's a Bladdernut.  The fruit is like a balloon with seeds inside.    (see here)

 

Bird?

This, I believe, is an American Bird Grasshopper.  Indeed when it flew past I thought it was a small bird. (see here)

 

Pearl Crescent

I think this is a Pearl Crescent...but all the Crescent butterflies look alike to me.  (see here)

 

Blue

The blue jays were loud, and busy thrashing in the leaf litter. 

 This one looked like he was listening for bugs.

 

Green

It looks like a green lawn, but no.  It's a green pond.  I wouldn't go swimming there.

 

Common

The Common Buckeye is an uncommonly pretty butterfly.  (see here)

 

Dog fennel

The dog fennel was head high.

 

Beautyberry

The Beautyberry bushes were loaded.

 

Mockingbird

Mockingbirds like to sit on the highest point and observe their territory.  This one posed for me for a long time.

 

 

Sleepy Orange

I think this little guy is a Sleepy Orange butterfly.  (see here)

How did it get a name like that?

 

Peek a boo

It's grasshopper season again!

 

Bees

The bees were busy in all the yellow flowers.  A carpenter bee snacked on a yellow crownbeard.

A honey bee in the goldenrod.

 

Goldenrod season

The prairie was filled with goldenrod.  None of us sneezed though.

 

Green

The sun shining through a palm leaf.

 

Weedy seeds

A few spring buds are coming out, but the dry winter plants are still with us.