Sunflowers

I thought is was high time I posted something.

 

Summer is almost over and I am glad for that...we had

a terribly HOT Summer and a drought.  A few weeks

ago we had 3" of rain...it's amazing what a little moisture can do.

It brought hope and healing to a dry and thirsty land.

I decided that I should be able to grow Sunflowers...for their

bright and cheery color and seeds for my backyard birds.  I watered them

everyday and they survived the drought :-)

Salt Plains NWR

A sweet little deer to welcome us to the wildlife refuge.

This refuge is about an hour and a half from home.  

We (my husband, Ken & I) finally marked out some

time for a visit.  It was very hot and very windy that

day so we were thankful they had auto tour roads, too.

This refuge is located in North Central Oklahoma.

The wheat harvest was going on as well and we enjoyed

viewing the vast, golden fields being harvested, too.  Kansas 

and Oklahoma are definitely the bread-basket of America!

A woodland hiking trail through the refuge

Trumpet Vines were in bloom

American Avocet  (lifer)

Wild Buttonbush

Dragonfly

Small creek running through the refuge.

The Marsh

Small inlet of the Great Salt Plains Lake

Great Salt Plains Lake

Sunset after the first day.

Wildflower:  Indian Blanket Flower

This was my most treasured find :-)

Lark Sparrow  (lifer)

I was thrilled to see several Lark Sparrows!

They make a beautiful song...this one was perched

on this post singing away.

Wildflower:  Arkansas Rose

I am guessing here.

Wildflower:  Fleabane

Wildflower: Hairy Vetch

Hedge Parsley  (another guess)

Great Salt Plains Lake

shoreline

Great Egret

There were lots of Great Egrets.

I am just guessing at this...a Skink

Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

Snowy Plover

The Snowy Plover likes to nest here. 

Also, the American Avocet and Interior Least Terns.

Salt Plains

This wide expanse of mud flats is covered with a thin layer

of salt.  You can dig for Selenite Crystals here.  It was too

hot and windy for us.  We will need to save that activity

for another day.

Finch Chicks Fledge

 House Finch Chicks

 Here is my last shot of the House Finch

Chicks before they fledged.  They took

off 2 days later.

 Pink Lily

My Lilies are blooming!  The flowers seem

to be doing well this Spring.  I believe that's

because it's been a wet/cool Spring.

 Baltimore Oriole

We have an Oriole pair :-)

I'm using a soap dish for the Grape Jelly

 receptacle.

 

Carolina Wren

This shy little guy is becoming a frequent

visitor...I don't mind :-)

Early Spring Sightings

 3 Baby Robins 

 Snail or Slug ??  

I really don't know much about these :-)

 The Kiss

2 Eurasian-collared Doves

 House Finch Nest

This nest is located right outside the front door

in the Boston Fern.

 Female Cardinal

 Blue Jay Display

 Downy Woodpecker

We have 2 or 3 Downys visiting the suet

and 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker.

 5 House Finch Eggs

 Common Buckeye

A "lifer" for me :-))

 Red Admiral Butterfly

We have been inundated with Red Admiral

Butterflies.  They are a gorgeous butterfly.

I haven't been on here for a while for different reasons.  But, 

I am still taking photos whenever I can.  I'm looking forward

to catching up on reading your blogs.  

Happy Monday !! 

Robin's Eggs

 Huge Cottonwood tree leafing out against

a beautiful Spring sky!

Mrs. Robin, all cozy in her nest :-))