Coming Soon Migration
Friends, soon this will be a common sight in Crex, the Sandhill Cranes flying in to join the larger flocks. They will dance and celebrate the end of summer, the arrival of the fall foliage and the migration of other birds, ducks, hawks, swans and passerines. They will all fly away to the south and leave me here,calling in the darkness of winter, longing for their return. But for now, time to get busy. til Tomorrow MJ
Second Summer Sharp Shin Hawk
Friends, this is a second summer sharp shinned Hawk who has been captured, banded and after this image was taken, was release back into the wild blue yonder. He has changed from his first year coloring when the eye is bright yellow, the breast feathers show a vertical orientation, and the top of his head was brown rather than the gray in this bird. He is a survivor and is migrating south over Hawk Ridge in Duluth Minnesota. The migration is starting and I will soon be able to show you new images of migrating birds. til Tomorrow MJ
Dogbane Beetle- A Natural History
Friends, a friend (thanks Kathy) pointed out this very colorful beetle to me. It is a dogbane beetle and eats leaves from Dogbane and Milkweed of which we have plenty in Crex. Probably the most noticeable characteristic of this tiny bug is the iridescent glow of color caused by small scales stacked at different angles on top of pigment. The circled areas show the scales as dark dots in lighter circles. One area will have focused scales while an adjacent area will be out of focus. The light bounces around and give the iridescence. These beetles are harmless to agricultural crops in that they only eat the leaves of milkweed and dogbane.
Dancing Lessons
Friends, did your mother teach you to dance, probably not. I learned from a friend, but in the crane world, the adults teach the dancing skills. The youngster on the left is learning from the two dancing in the middle how to celebrate life and rejoice. So for today, dance and teach your children. til Tomorrow MJ
Another Karner
Friends, could not resist showing you one more Karner Butterfly, and endangered specie here in Crex Meadows. This is a better image in that he is perched on a lead plant flower instead of the usual scat perch and the blue spots on his hind wing are showing their iridescent glow. The light needs to be right for those spots to glow and look like abalone. The bokeh is also better than the previous image. til Tomorrow MJ
Morning Dove Call
Friends, this morning dove is calling to its mate with an inflated neck and a yellow sheen on the side of the neck. I had never seen this behavior before this photo, nature never seems to disappoint or cease to be amazing in the discoveries to be made. til Tomorrow MJ
Orange on orange
Friends, this is one of the many fritillary butterflies in Crex. I think this is Atlantis but can’t be sure. To me they all look alike and i have difficulty differentiating them, but don’t need a name to appreciate their beauty. This one is perched on butterfly weed, an orange milkweed. til Tomorrow MJ
Skipper
Friends, this tiny skipper is sipping from the vervain that is abundant in Crex right now . His yellow head suggests that he is a Dun Skipper, maybe someone can help with the identification. I am far from a butterfly expert. I like his proboscis looped in the air and i like the bokeh. The background was rendered as amorphous because the distance between the subject and background was greatly out of focus. I am not always so lucky. til Tomorrow MJ
One More Tall Ship
Friends, the Norwegian ship Sorlandet, as she passed the end of the canal in Duluth Minnesota on Tall Ship Parade day. She wasn’t flying sails but all dressed up for the festival to come. Looks like a man-made spider web but no one aloft. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Foreshadow
Friends, these leaves of the Solomon Seal plant are curly and have longitudinal veining. I like the pattern Foreshadowing the blooms. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 