Butterfly Wings On Wednesday

                 Queen Butterfly - Willow Lake - Prescott, Az. 
                                                            (danaus gilippus)                                       

              Bordered Patch Butterfly  (backyard) Prescott, Az.
                                                (chlosyne lacinia)                   
                     

    Spalding's Dotted Blue - Willow Lake- Prescott, Az.

(euphilotes spaldingi )                   

Two Phoebes - Wings On Wednesday

Although they are common to this area, it was last week that I actually saw my first Black Phoebe. At first glance I thought it was a blackbird and then saw the white belly:)  

                                                             

                                                          Black Phoebe - Prescott, Az.

     Below, a  Say's Phoebe carried a tasty morsel along with him or her on top of a roof.
    I see these Phoebe's quite frequently in our area and its fun to watch them twist and turn to catch insects in mid air.

                                                          Say's Phoebe - Prescott, Az.

Clash of the Titans

Its always enjoyable to watch Hummingbirds defend their territory and more fun to get an image of very close encounters.  I believe the Hummingbird on the left is an Anna's and not sure of the one on the right, perhaps a female Broadtail?

A Pair of Roadrunners for Wed.Wings

 I have seen a LOT of Roadrunners - usually out hunting alone. Here are a pair of Greater American Roadrunners hunting together up on a bluff.  The blue and red markings are visible on one, which my field books tell me it is a mature adult.  I'm hoping the other is a young female and they are an 'official' couple :)

                                                 
                                         Greater American Roadrunners - Prescott, Arizona

Late Summer Nature at Lynx Lake

 On a warm August summer morning at Lynx Lake we observed a Great Blue Heron fishing. It is hard to see but in the 3rd photo it appears he has caught some type of crayfish.

Eyeing the prey ....

                                                               with  precise expertise ....

is a nice meal indeed! 

This is the first time I have viewed  Mallard hens with the blue/purple plumage 

Many types of wildflowers and mushrooms (spiny type) grow along the east shore of Lynx Lake

 A young Rock Squirrel who posed very nicely - I was informed by a fellow hiker that there are a family of 5 nearby

 Acorn Woodpecker who was very intent & vocal on guarding his territory  

 Preying Mantis looks like he's daring me to come any closer! 

 

Last, but not least, is a sure sign that Fall is not too far away - a Junco!

Have a safe and happy Labor Day :) 

Birds, Mammals,& Insects of Summer

 Anna's (m) Hummingbird Peek-a-Boo

                                      1st year Mule Deer - Gila National Forest - New Mexico

Red Dragonfly

Friendly Llama's down the road  

                                                      A young Greater Roadrunner in the yard

                                                       Mosaic butterfly on wildflower

Calliope Hummingbird - Wed. Wings

During our stay at the Little Toad Inn, Silver City, NM.  We had many opportunities to view and photograph different types of hummingbirds during the Hummingbird Festival. This male Calliope Hummingbird's beautiful gorget really caught our eye :)