More Butterflies - CMBO, Goshen

 

Silver-spotted Skipper

American Lady

Hummingbird Moth

Birding CMP State Park

A walk at the CMP State Park took me from the beach to the woods. On the beach we had Royal Terns (picture#1), Sandwich Terns and Forester Terns hanging out together. There were Common Terns (picture#2) and Least Terns flying in from the rips where they were successfully fishing for lunch for the chicks. American Oystercatcher chicks (Picture#3) were resting under the watchful eyes of both parents.

Over to the red trail where there were about 100 Tree Swallows (picture#4) lined up on the rope fences. Ten into the wooded areas where the birds were fewer but those that were there were playing in shadows were having a great time.

Butterflies in my backyard

How exciting that all of my hard work is paying off. Making the front new gardens plus adding the rotten fruit for nectaring and more flowers in the backyard gardens has brought in with new butterflies in my backyard. About 2 weeks ago I saw a Variegated Fritillary nectaring on some of the flowers including the Tropical Milkweed. Today the Variegated Fritillary butterflies were on my Rudibecka. In the backyard on the rotten friut was an awesome Mouring Cloak and an American Snout. I've seen Mourning Cloaks before though usually on the roads in the spring. I'd never seen an American Snout before of which I am aware. Totally awesome!

Variegated Fritillary

American Snout

Mourning Cloak

Horace's Duskywing

Wordless Wednesday - Dragonflies

Front yard Gardens

I have been working on new gardens in the front yard along with help from my sister, Jenny.  I had 20 yards of terragro delivered in April which my 2 sisters and I spread out into a larger area of about 8" deep which tapers down to the lawn.  Since that time we have been adding plants, a fountain to provide water for the birds, and a branch to add a resting place for the birds plus it also adds texture to the gardens.

The front yard gardens also include a hummingbird feeder and a tray of rotten fruit for the butterflies to use for feeding.

Monarch Caterpillars in my backyard

The Monarch Butterflies have been flitting around in my gardens for several weeks now. I have seen them mate and now I have caterpillars and at least one chrysalis in the yard. Pictures are the Monarch Butterflies mating, some caterpillar on their host Milkweed plants and a Chrysalis on the Verbena Bonariensis.

Wordless Wednesday

Gardens at Hereford Lighthouse, North Wildwood

The gardens at Hereford Lighthouse are always so nice each year.  The flowers are chosen well with some natives, some non-natives but all that are beneficial for the butterflies, Bugs and birds.  It's always worth the trip to visit. Flowers below top to bottom are Snap Dragons, Pentas, Shasta Daisy, Summer Sun Rudbecki and Lantana.

More flowers @ Hereford Lighthouse, North Wildwood

Hydrangea

Purple Coneflower

Queen Anne's Lace

Thoughtful Thursday

Aerodynamically, the bee shouldn't be able to fly,

but the bumble bee doesn't know so it goes on flying anyway.

Mary Kay Ash

Wordless Wednesday - Butterflies @CMBO - Goshen

Spicebush Swallowtail

Common Wood-Nymph Butterfly

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Red-banded Hairstreak

Horace's Dustywing

Broad-winged Skipper

Hummers @ CMBO, Goshen

Every summer the Hummingbirds are at the Cape may Bird Obsevatory in Goshen. We usually have the Red-throated Hmmers here though I must always see the females or the young newly fleged birds as I have never been lucky enough to see the red throats!
I can't wait until they visit my yard again. I had them move through in May and use the Cat Mint but none decided to hang around. I am hoping that with the new gardens that will happen next year. In the meantiime...

Royal Terns fishing - Delaware Bay NCM

When I went out this AM to water the flowers in the front gardens I saw some terns fishing along the Delaware Bay so I grabbed my camera, went down to the beach and started taking pictures.  The terns are Royal Terns.



Royal Tern fishing







Salt Marsh CMC

No time to get out to see the birds these days but finally had to steal some time before all of the chicks grew up and fly away.

Mom & Dad Osprey with 2 chicks



Osprey chick closeup



American Oystercatcher and chick (on left)