Cape May County, NJ ~ Red Knots and Ruddy Turnstones

 

Cape May County, NJ ~ Salt Marsh ~ Seaside Sparrow

The first 2 pictures show the difficulty in photographing some birds. This Seaside Sparrow, was up and down and all around in the salt marsh, challenging me to get a decent picture I never got want I wanted but managed a few decent images.

Beth's Patch ~ Monarch Butterfly

 And this happened today on the Purple Milkweed...

Cook's Beach ~ Glossy Ibis & Snowy Egrets

Out hunting Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs today. Found a flock of Glossy Ibis and also a flock of Snowy Egrets along the road driving into the beach.

Snowy Egrets ~ Keeping watch

Beth's Patch ~ Birds enjoying the oranges

This year we have more takers at the orange buffet in the yard though still no orioles!  We now have male American Robins coming frequently  since about mid-May.  Today, for the first time I have seen Northern Mockingbirds at the buffet.

American Robin

Northern Mockingbirds 

 

Beth's Patch ~ Zabulon Skipper

Zabulon Skipper ~ #13 Species for 2021 for the yard

 

Beth's Patch ~ Caterpillars

 I continue to work in the garden everyday as this year I am having to go it alone.  The interesting part is seeing the butterflies on a daily basis and any changes.  Today, I found eggs and caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail butterfly and also caterpillars of the American Lady butterfly.  The American Lady butterflies make a nest in the pussytoes and spend most of their time in it.

Black Swallowtail eggs

Black Swallowtail caterpillar

American Lady butterfly's nest with caterpillar in it

American Lady Caterpillar

Cape May County, NJ ~ Shorebirds

A trip around Cape May County the past few days has seen and increase in the numbers of shorebirds.

Yellow Legs at Stone Harbor Point

Least Terns mating ritual Cape May Point State Park

Red Knots and other peeps near Kimbel's Beach

Ruddy Turnstones near Kimbel's Beach

Dunlin at the Wetlands Institute, Stone Harbor

 Dunlin and other peeps at the Wetlands Institute, Stone Harbor

 

Beth Patch~ More Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

 

Beth's Patch ~ Spring Birds in the yard

Every spring I put out oranges hoping that this year the orioles will pay us a visit.  Like other years the Gray Catbird was the first bird to partake of them.  This year though there was a big migration flight of Red-bellied Woodpeckers that stopped by to feed on them.  So cool to see.  Now, if only those darn orioles would come by....

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Gray Catbird

 

Beth's Patch ~ Butterflies in the Garden

I have been seeing American Lady butterflies every day laying eggs on the pussytoes in the garden.  The plant spreads willy-nilly which is fine as not only is it a host plant but the rabbits are eating it and leaving some of the other plants alone such as the coneflowers and phlox.  The Question Mark was laying eggs on the hackberry tree.

American Lady Butterfly

Question Mark