Wings on Wednesday

Pearl Crescent
I took this photo during my visit to
South Dakota (my stomping grounds)
My in~laws have a gorgeous garden and
there were butterflies all over. This one
sat still enough to capture a few pics.

Here is another view. To find their IDs, I
get on the internet and go to butterflies and moths of
north america (google that) that site posts
lots of butterfly and moth species. Then I study my
photograph or butterfly/moth specimen and compare
it to ID'd photos on the website :-))
I'm definitely not an expert!

I'm a beginning artist as well...I've always
enjoyed drawing and sketching. I've begun
to study watercolor painting and watercolor
pencil art. I'm combining my love of the
beauty of nature with my art. I've started a
"nature sketchbook" to record sketches of nature.
Right now I'm on a kick of sketching all the real butterfly
and moth specimens that I and my family have captured.
One of the sketches is pictured above.

I'm still into birds...it's just that its been too hot
to go out looking for them. And there haven't
been many in the backyard. It turned cool today
YAYYYYY!! It was 96 degrees yesterday and it's 77 today :-))
"it's such a blessin'...it doesn't seem natural" (a quote from
the movie The Yearling)

Happy Wednesday!! Everyone!!

Butterfly & Skipper

Sachem Skipper
I took this picture in my backyard.

Gray Hairstreak

This beautiful little butterfly was posing so
nicely for me.

God's Little Creatures

Spicebush Swallowtail

Ruby~throated Hummingbird

Monarch Butterfly

Tree Frog

Wednesday Wonders

House Finch Chicks
I would say these 2 little chicks are almost
ready to fledge. I was afraid that if I took the
plant down to water it they would
try to fly too early. But, they stayed hunkered
down and very quiet as I snapped a couple
pics and proceeded to water the plant. I hung the
plant back up and thought, "that'll be the
last time I see these 2 little guys." They are
so sweet...it's amazing how they survived the heat.
This plant has hosted 2 H. Finch families and
will have successfully launched 5 chicks
this Spring/Summer.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!

Wednesday Wonders

Mississippi Kite

Moth (unidentified)

Sunset at the Arkansas River in Kansas

House Finch Chicks

They look a little gross here with their
craws stuffed full, but they've gotten
a little bigger. It amazes me how they
can survive the heat. We are having temps
over 100 degrees with no end in sight.

Happy Wednesday !!

Wednesday Wonders

Young Cardinal
I've been having a few young Cardinals
at the feeder. They look like a mess and
need to grow into their beaks :-)
But, I am so glad to have them!

New House Finch Babies
The House Finches have hatched! They are
so tiny and fuzzy. The pink you see are their
necks and the little round fuzzy at the
end is the back of their heads.

Rose of Sharon Blooms
We had a small rain a couple of days
ago which made the Rose of Sharon bush
burst into bloom. Kansas has been in the
100's temperature wise for quite awhile
which hasn't done the gardens, plants
and flowers any good. Tomorrow it's suppose
to be 107 degrees...I'm not sure about
the heat index. That's Summer in Kansas for you!

Happy Wednesday!!

Wings on Wednesday

Wings on Wednesday

Keep your eye on the sky while eating young
Cardinals. There are many Mississippi Kites around.

Two sweet friends :-)
This Sparrow and Finch have been with each
other the last couple of days. The House
Finch seems to be watching over the House Sparrow.

Is this a male or female? No crest...

I was so happy to find that a House Finch pair
have started another nest in the fern outside! That'll
be something new to observe through these long
hot Summer days ahead.

I'm not sure about the ID of this bird.
He is sure showing an attitude and a half!
I'm thinking it reminded me of a Grackle. It
could be a young one.

We have several Mississippi Kites cruising our area.
I see their shadows swooping over the backyard. All the young birds
will need to keep an eye out.

Lots of young Cardinals coming to get a drink
and eat some Sunflower seeds.

Summer Sightings

Hi, I know I haven't posted in quite awhile. The bird
action has been way down in my backyard and I've gotten
sidetracked with "this, that, or the other".
We (my husband & I) keep the food & water
out for the birds, but we have a young squirrel who thinks it's for him.

Look at this Robin above, he tells the story
of our extra early HOT Summer.
It has been so hot here that all the birds have
their beaks hanging open. It makes a person
wonder how they can survive.
Some manage to cool off while the sprinkler
is running on the garden. My husband got a shot
of a young Chickadee doing just that :-)
(pictured way below)

Pesky, the Squirrel

House Finch

Baltimore Oriole

The Oriole feeder looked like it had a whole
colony of ants floating in it...yuck! We are seeing the
occasional Oriole but not like we had in the Spring.

Tufted Titmouse
(where's his tuft?)

My husband captured this shot, too. We haven't seen
any Titmice for some time and "pop", there he is! Hubby
grabbed the camera and took a quick shot
before he flew away. Sometimes when you do that...
it chops off the top of their head :-)
I wanted to include this image in the post because
the bird life has been mighty scarce around here. I like
how the picture shows his pretty eye, beautiful plumage,
and clean conical beak.

American Robin

I didn't want to leave you in suspense regarding
the HOT and thirsty Robin. He finally worked his way toward the
water source and took a couple drinks.

Carolina Chickadee

Here is the Chickadee enjoying a shower :-))

Next, is a hodge~podge of photos from my
backyard. I'm happy about the flowers as I
started them from seed last year.

Notice the "itsy, bitsy spider" on the
Black~eyed Susan.

Happy Friday!! everyone!!