OR ~ On the way to Mt Hood

Another day of beautiful scenery as we drive from Prineville to our last stop at Mt Hood.  We have really covered many miles in Oregon this past week. I had no idea that the scenery would be as gorgeous as it has been here.  Around every corner is a sight more beautiful than the one we have just passed.  I am looking forward to  a return trip someday to explore even more.  Today, we saw more birds and even got more butterflies though nothing like yesterday at the reservoir.

Reflectios ~ Lake Simtustus, OR

Reflections ~ Lake Simtustus, OR

Double-crested Cormorant

American Kestral

Common Mergansers swimming along Hood River

Unknown Fritillary at Lake Timothy ~
Asked for help with ID inconclusive results Atlantis VS Mormon Fritillary

Mourning Cloak at Lake Timothy

Gray Jay ~ High Mountain

Young Oregon Junco

 

Coming home to my yard ~ Awesome!

Just back from my wonderful vacation to find my yard alive with butterflies of all kinds.  The Tropical Milkweed patch that measures about 3 ft by 9 ft had over 25 Monarch butterflies, over 12 caterpillars of varying sizes and several chrysalis attached along the back wall.  On the rotten fruit there were Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral and an occasional Painted Lady.  There were Painted and American Ladies nectaring on flowers, 5 Orange Sulphur, Cabbage Whites, Common Buckeyes, Black Swallowtails and lots of different skippers.  Plus we still have 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds here that haven't migrated yet.

Monarch butterflies, Caterpillars and a Chrysalis

Orange Sulphur

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

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