First Dragonfly and Butterfly Pics of the Year

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #129. Here's my first dragonfly picture of the year, a juvenile Common Whitetail:

First butterfly pics of the year: A Fiery Skipper. (I think, skipper identification can be tricky.)

I'm also contributing to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 371 - By the water's edge. Here's a pair of mallards at Broad Branch creek in D.C.

Remember that place that had a horse roaming outside on the horse trail? It seems the chickens get to come out and play sometimes, too. I thought I'd get a pic before seeing if I could get closer (I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'):

Turned out to be no problem. They all ran right up.


It's been a while since my left foot made an appearance:

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Gotta Fly!

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #128. I know I've been featuring Chippie a lot, but...so photogenic!


Theda and I visited the ducks at Broad Branch yesterday:


I'm also contributing to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. Here's some of the platter birds from the yard:



nice to see you, gotta fly!

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Fences plus Birdie Survey

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #112.


I'm also contributing to Michelle's Nature Notes (#362).

Survey SAYS! Suet #1, Seeds #2, Beer #3. (Probably true even if I had opened the Yuengling.)

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Mallard, Blue Jay, Cardinal

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #122. I went to visit Broad Branch with Theda yesterday. We found one mallard.

Blue Jay visits to the yard are relatively rare. I heard the familiar tweet of a Cardinal, looked out the window and got my first picture of one there.

The Blue Jay heard me and flew off, leaving the seeds to Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal.

How about a closeup of Mr. Cardinal in the sun? (I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather Be Birdin'.)

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Fall Critters

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #96. Nutkin found a walnut!

Bees are still out and about:


I walked over to Schiller Park the other day to see who was there:


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Do Grackles Cackle?

I've never heard one, but I'd like to think so. My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #74.

I saw this butterfly the day after making this comment.





UPDATE: Bonus Grackle Pic

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Painted Ladies and more

My contribution to eileeninmd's Saturday's Critter's #47:

Butterflies won't be around for much longer this year. I saw these Painted Ladies at Schiller Park last week.


The sound of cicadas is gone already.

There are still some honeybees around:

The Schiller Park ducks (and geese, I think) will be around all winter.

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It Was A Duck And Stormy Afternoon

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #44. We had a hailstorm here this morning, and after that it was cold and windy.





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German Village Fences

My contribution to TexWisGirl's Good Fences #15:



I suppose this isn't much of a fence, but still:

And now for some German Village critters:



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