Edwin Forsythe NWR ~ Birds

Barn Swallow

Common Yellow-throat

American Oystercatcher

Clapper Rail

Edwin Forsythe NWR ~ Red-necked Phalarope ~ Life Bird #385

Red-necked Phalarope flying by Laughing Gulls

Red-necked Phalarope staying cool by the American Skimmer

Red-necked Phalarope flying

My Yard ~ Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Yesterday I was delighted to see that the Ruby-throated Hummingbird were returning.  This is probably an immature hummer.  I would love to see the male again but it have probably left the area.

Thinking of Dad on his Birthday

My father would have been 99 today.  He has been gone for 18 years but my family talks of him often along with the trips we took camping while we were growing up.  We went every summer for 2-3 weeks and saw a lot of the USA.  On Sunday's we always went to church and so we always took dressy clothes on our trips to wear.  Here's a picture from 1967.  It's the Morgan's (us) and friends we traveled with the Hess's.

My Yard ~ Rotten Fruit

Each year for the past 4-5 years I have put out rotten fruit for the butterflies.   This can be very effective to draw them into your yard as not every butterfly nectars' on plants. This year I have had another visitor to the rotten fruit - a catbird.  So I watch the as catbird chases away the butterflies and then the butterflies chase away the catbirds.  I think the catbird is feeding youngsters.

Question Mark Butterfly

Red Admiral Butterfly

Catbird

My Yard ~ Cross striped Cabbageworm

Found a new caterpillar today on the cabbage.  I wondered if it could be a later instar of the Cabbage White Butterfly so I went to the internet to do some research.  I found out that it is actually the caterpillar for a moth.

Wordless Wednesday ~ My gardens

Front Gardens

Front side garden

Side garden looking out to the bay

Back gardens

Zinnas

More Cheesier Coneflower

Coneflowers

Pink Phlox

Shasta Daisy

Gallardia

My pansies alive since large November