Black Capped Chickadee

 The small Black Capped Chickadee is such a delight.  They grab a seed very fast and then go and bang it against a branch in the tree to open it to eat.

One of the rare moments when he was still enough for me to get a picture.

They like the bag of seeds too.

In the Flowering Plum Tree.

American Goldfinch

 Thought it would be nice to see some birds during this long winter we are about to enter.
These are pictures I took this summer of the American Goldfinch that visited my feeders.

Male at my feeder.

I really enjoyed their sounds they make and watching them hanging upside down to get to the seeds.... A few sparrows watched and tried to do the same...some did ok but most found it very difficult.

 These female at the bag feeder,

Male feeding his baby.

They love the seeds from the Coneflowers.

 This one was eating the aphids of this vine.

Female on the Coneflowers.

I think he knew I was taking his picture.  A perfect pose.

The Goldfinch visit my feeders all year long.  It is such a joy to see the male turn yellow a sure sign of spring on it way.

What are these bugs?

What are these orange bugs?  I discovered them on the Butterfly Red Butterfly Flower ( Asclepias Curassavica) that I bought this year.  The Monarch Butterfly loves it.

The Monarch visits this flower everyday. 

This is the Flower and the pods that form after the flower blooms.

This is the pod opening just like the milkweed does

So What are these bugs?  Does anyone know?

 

Dragonflies

This one is a Common Whitetail, male found at Rocky Fork Lake, Ohio











This is a Common Green Darner. 

 I think this is a Dragonhunter.

This was found in Tar Hollow.   A Ebony Jewelwing.

Salty Skimmer
Found at Lake Hope, Ohio

Widow Skimmer
Lake Hope, Ohio

Butterfly Vistors to my yard

This Zebra Swallowtail is so beautiful.  It is the smallest of the swallowtails.

This is a Red-spotted Purple.   

This is the smallest butterfly to visit.  This Gray Hairstreak landed on my sister and stayed for quite a while.  It is amazing to see that it's protection is having the fake antennas and eye on the rear end. 

This Cabbage White took a few minutes to rest so I could get his picture.  They are very quick, flying from  plant to flower around the yard.

The Easter Tiger Swallowtail.  They are the happy butterflies. Their yellow color makes me smile seeing them flying around.

This is the Question Mark.  On the wing you can see the white or silver marking.  It looks like a leaf with his wings closed.

But beautiful when he opens his wings

I believe this is the Tawny Emperor.  It is feasting on rotting apples.  It didn't even mind me being there taking it's picture.

Red Admiral enjoying the rotting apples.

American Snout.  He was by the pool for several days.  He would even land on you.

Silver-Spotted Skipper.

I rescued this Dragonfly from the pool.  They drop in every so often.

The Eastern Comma

The Eastern Comma.  It has a comma shap on it's hindwing.

The Monarch sitting on Rose of Sharon.  I am so thrilled that he or she is visiting.

 

Mating Monarchs?

This beautiful Monarch butterfly has been visiting my yard for the last few days.  This is the first time I have had a Monarch.

This flower is it's favorite. It is a Butterfly Red Butterfly Flower (Asclepias Curassavica).  It is a very bright colored flower on a tall stalk.

After it flowers, it gets these pods and when they open, it is similar to the milkweed pods.

Then yesterday I saw the Monarch flying around and it looked like it was carrying something.  I was totally amazed.  It landed on the honeysuckle arbor and I snapped these pictures.

I figured this was a mating couple.  I do hope she lays her eggs in my yard.  Will keep you updated.