Common Yellowthroat
Yesterday a Yellowthroat startled me. It hopped out of a thicket on the edge of the path and started to make scolding noises. Then another one appeared and flew off … Continued
Great Spangled Fritillary
The coneflowers have started blooming and I’ve been seeing more butterflies. Here’s a Great Spangled Fritillary drinking nectar from a Pale Purple Coneflower. You can see coneflowers in the gardens … Continued
Green Milkweed
I found this wildflower (also called Spider Milkweed) blooming in the prairie last week. It’s easy to overlook because it’s short and has green flowers. Milkweeds are the host for … Continued
White-tailed Deer
On my morning walk at the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT) yesterday I stumbled upon this newborn fawn. We were both startled and stared at each other, only a few feet … Continued
Giant Swallowtail
I saw the first Giant Swallowtail of the season yesterday. They are the largest butterfly in North America. It was feeding on the wild Black Raspberry and the Blackberries, which … Continued
Dickcissel
On my walk in the prairie yesterday I saw a Dickcissel. It resembles a Meadowlark, but it’s much smaller, more like large-billed house sparrow with large black “V” on yellow … Continued
Prairie Warbler
I got a good look at a Prairie Warbler in a cedar tree yesterday. It is the least common of the 13 kinds of warblers that nest at the Prairie … Continued
Indigo Bunting
Indigo Buntings have just returned after spending the winter in South America. I saw one yesterday singing at the top of an oak tree.
Eastern Tailed Blue
Over the past month I’ve been seeing these tiny blue butterflies flying low to the ground searching for wildflowers. Here it’s on a Wild Geranium.