Around Town ~ Pumpkin Patch Pumpkins

A few days ago, I read about an Amish farm nearby on a little back road that had great pumpkins so drove over to see them.  I was blown away by the pumpkins of all sizes, shapes and colors since I am only familiar with the "old plain" orange pumpkins of yester year.  So, of course, I had to purchase one or two or ten.  Amazing was running into a classmate from junior/senior high school who lives about an hour away.  She's been coming to the farm for pumpkins for 10 years.  We had lunch together before going to my house for the afternoon to catch up.

 

Around My Yard

Ruby-throated Hummingbird yesterday

Ruby-throated Hummingbird today

 

Painted Lady,

Sachem 

Variegated Fritillary

Around My Yard ~ Monarch Eclosing

Monarch just out of his chrysalis and pumping up his wings

Still Pumping

Not there yet but hopefully soon!

failed Monarch chrysalis

 

My Yard ~ Backyard Birds ~ New Yard Birds

Tufted Tiitmouse ~ Yard bird #31

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Wild Turkey ~ Yard Bird #32

 

Around My Yard ~ Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

 It's getting close to the time where all of the Ruby-throated hummingbirds will have migrated south until next summer. It's a bittersweet time with Fall here and winter soon to follow.  Indeed, I still see a hummingbird every day but usually just a short glimpse once or twice a day.  Here are a few pictures from the past few days including today.

Around My Yard ~ Monarch Haven

 This fall was great for Monarch caterpillars in my yard with over 25 caterpillars seen on one of the days.  All caterpillars were laid on swamp milkweed but in the end I had to switch 6-8 caterpillars to butterfly milkweed because the swamp milkweed was all eaten.  I will buy more of it for next year even though I had planted 3 plants this year.  Maybe, I'll give away the butterfly milkweed.  I have seen at least 11 Monarch's eclose with 2 others damaged.  There are 2 left that I can see that still need to be ready for the next step.  Good luck as they all fly south.

Monarch caterpillars munching away

Chrysalis everywhere

Black Swallowtail chrysalis on rt & Monarch chrysalis on left

Monarch chrysalis just eclosed and something has bitten
of a fair amount of both upper and lower wings.

Monarch ready to emerge from the chrysalis

This Skipper-spotted skipper just didn't want to leave the Monarch alone. 
The Monarch had just eclosed and was pumping up his wings.

 

Around My Yard ~ American Redstart

While waiting (im)patiently for a few more southern stray butterflies to visit, this young male American Redstart came to visit the past few days. Yard Bird #30

 

Cape May Point Monarch Roost

Small roost of Monarchs was forming at St Pete's beach crossover at 4:30. There was another small one about double the size at Lincoln Ave. Not near as many Monarchs going by today here.

 

 

Around My Yard ~ Sachem Skipper's

 Clouds of Sachem and other skippers in my yard this AM after those 2 days of rain, rain and more rain. Low estimate is about 75. Can you find the the 8 skippers in the image?

Honeycroft Village ~ Around my Yard ~ Red-spotted Purple

 Several years ago I was lucky enough to have documented the life cycle of the Red-spotted Purple at my home in NJ.  One of the things I brought with me to PA was 4 potted native cherry trees that are between 2 and 3 ft.  They started out as little seedlings from the tree in my yard there.  A few days ago I found several eggs on 2 of the trees and within 24 hrs one of the eggs had hatched.  Since, then, 2 eggs hatched yesterday so there are 3 caterpillars.  It is amazing how small the eggs are as they are not even as big as a had of a pin.  They are about as thin as a hair and 1/16th of an inch long.

9/3 - Red-spotted Egg ready to hatch

9/3 - Red-spotted Egg

9/4 - Red-spotted caterpillar eating egg casing

9/5 - Red-spotted caterpillar eating part of leaf

9/5 - Red-spotted caterpillar eating part of leaf

9/5 - Red-spotted caterpillar ate about 1/4" of the leaf

9/6 - Red-spotted caterpillar has eaten about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the leaf

Honeycroft Village ~ Around the Yard

Pearl Crescent ~ New Yard butterfly #28

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Peck's Skipper ~ Yard Butterfly #27

Peck's Skipper

Dun Skipper

Dun Skipper

Common Buckeye

 

Unknown caterpillar om wild cherry tree