More Butterflies at Eastern Neck NWR
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Some more of my favorite compositions of different species of butterflies captured in July at the refuge.
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Black Swallowtail
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Common Buckeye
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Hobomok (or Zabulon?) skipper
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Eastern Tiger Swallowtails
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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail close-up
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Spicebush Swallowtail
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Orange Sulphur
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Butterfly Bliss
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Zebra Swallowtail
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So delicate and amazing! I’ve seen/shared 18 species of butterflies this summer to date (HERE in case you missed them).
I’m hoping to capture and share more species who will be stopping by the refuge’s Butterfly Garden and meadows for food in September and October, as they make their way south for the winter.
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Great Horned Owl
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At dusk two evenings ago, I happily give credit to my husband for spotting a large dark bird sitting on the ground under the trees at the back of our yard.
With my binoculars, I saw the bird had its back to me. Then it spun its head.
A gorgeous face and two big yellow eyes of a Great Horned Owl was staring right back at me!
We were both startled! 😉 The owl quickly flushed up into the trees.
Camera ready and in-hand, I stayed partially hidden and waited. Would it return?
It did! 🤗😊🤗
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Great Horned Owl
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The owl flushed again as I was clicking off the shots.
I patiently waited a few more minutes….maybe, just maybe….
Yes! The owl dropped back to the ground, this time closer to us! I got a few shots before the Great Horned Owl flushed up again and flew off.
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Great Horned Owl
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Great Horned Owl
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What an awesome, memorable visitor! You might remember, several months ago I had another unique visitor in our little over one-acre yard, a Bald Eagle. Lucky me!
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Sunset on Chester River
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We finally had a reprieve in our hot temperatures this past Friday to the low 80s F. 🤗
After getting done what was necessary, we took advantage of the gorgeous late afternoon and went for a boat ride, did a little fishing, and toasted the peaceful sunset.
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Sunset over Eastern Neck from Chester River
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Once the sun had disappeared, a cloud formation to the south produced a spectacular pink glow.
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With the day done, we headed back up the river, then our creek, back to our dock….
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Once secured up against the T-dock, the night began to settle in.
Before departing our boat, I saw this next composition and had to take ‘one more photo’. 😊
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Looking east
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More Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
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Some more photos of the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks that are still hanging around a retention pond less than a 1/4 mile from my daughter’s home in Delaware.
They are considered a rare sighting for the mid-Atlantic, so naturally I check on them each time I go see my grandson. 🙂
On one occasion, there was a ruckus going on between three ducks which was interesting. They used their feet and claws when attacking each other.
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Black-bellied Whistling Duck “martial arts”
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Also biting. Ouch!
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Black-bellied Whistling Duck biting another
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These four had the rest of the flock a bit upset, putting some into flight to circle and reland. Which I was thrilled to say the least! Here are my four favorite flight shots.
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Peek-a-boo!
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Butterflies at Eastern Neck NWR
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While seeking birds the past six weeks, I tried my hand at capturing our summer’s butterflies and skippers at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge’s Bayview Butterfly Garden and trail.
I’m sharing a photo collection of all the butterflies (15) and skipper (3) species I was lucky to capture and hopefully identified correctly. If I’ve misidentified any, please, please let me know, butterfly experts!
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Monarch
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Cabbage White
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Pearl Crescent
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Summer Azure
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Variegated Fritillary
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Eastern Tailed-blue
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Hobomok (or Zabulon?) Skipper
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Common Buckeye
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Silver-spotted Skipper
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Unidentified Skipper
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Clouded or Orange Sulphur
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Clouded or Orange Sulphur
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Cloudless Sulphur
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Red-spotted Purple
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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
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Spicebush Swallowtail (female)
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Black Swallowtail
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and finally, the last one….
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Zebra Swallowtail
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“Butterflies.…flowers that fly and all but sing.” – Robert Frost
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A peek at the gardens and fields of flowers at the refuge where the butterflies love to hang out.
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I have more pretty shots of these butterfly species for another post.
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1-2-3 Medium Bird Jubilee – #8 & #9
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Just as I did with my last post, I am doubling up on this serie of medium-sized birds with two sets again. I hope you’re enjoying the varieties! 🙂
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Eastern Bluebird (male)
Length 6.3-8.3 inches (16-21 cm)
Weight 1.0-1.1 oz (28-32 g)
Wingspan 9.8-12.6 inches (25-32 cm)
Eastern Neck NWR
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American Robin
Length 7.9-11.0 inches (20-28 cm)
Weight 2.7-3.0 oz (77-85 g)
Wingspan 12.2-15.8 inches (31-40 cm)
My backyard
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Killdeer
Length 7.9-11.0 inches (20-28 cm)
Weight 2.6-4.5 oz (75-128 g)
Wingspan 18.1-18.9 inches (46-48 cm)
Chesapeake Farms
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Pectoral Sandpiper (my photographed lifer #266)
Length 8.3 inches (21 cm)
Weight 2.6-2.8 oz (73-79 g)
Wingspan 18 inches (46 cm)
Flooded farm field near Fairlee
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Northern Cardinal (male)
Length 8.3-9.1 inches (21-23 cm)
Weight 1.5-1.7 oz (42-48 g)
Wingspan 9.8-12.2 inches (25-31 cm)
Eastern Neck NWR
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Gray Catbird
Length 8.3-9.4 inches (21-24 cm)
Weight 0.8-2.0 oz (23.2-56.5 g)
Wingspan 8.7-11.8 inches (22-30 cm)
Eastern Neck NWR
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1-2-3 Cute As Can Be – #16 & #17
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Another addition to this series…..times two! Posting two sets will help me catch up a little! 😉
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American Goldfinch (female or immature)
Length 4.3-5.1 inches (11-13 cm)
Weight 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g)
Wingspan 7.5-8.7 inches (19-22 cm)
Eastern Neck NWR
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Blue Grosbeak (male)
Length 5.9-6.3 inches (15-16 cm)
Weight 0.9-1.1 oz (26-31 g)
Wingspan 11.0 inches (28 cm)
Eastern Neck NWR
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Carolina Chickadee
Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-12 g)
Wingspan: 5.9-7.9 in (15-20 cm)
Shipyard Landing
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Grasshopper Sparrow
Length 4.3-4.5 inches (10.8-11.5 cm)
Weight 0.5-0.7 oz (14-20 g)
Wingspan 7.9 inches (20 cm)
Eastern Neck NWR
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Eastern Wood-Pewee
Length 5.9 inches (15 cm)
Weight 0.3-0.7 oz (10-19 g)
Wingspan 9.1-10.2 inches (23-26 cm)
Chesapeake Farms
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Indigo Bunting (male)
Length 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
Weight 0.4-0.6 oz (12-18 g)
Wingspan 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm)
Eastern Neck NWR
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Five On The Wing – #30
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These five bird species in flight are quite the acrobats!
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Barn Swallow
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Purple Martin
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Northern Rough-winged Swallow
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Chimney Swifts
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Tree Swallow
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Five On The Wire – #9
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It’s been a while with this series, here’s another five perched bird species enjoying their view!
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Eastern Kingbird
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House Sparrow immature
(this one’s more hoping s/he’s in the parent’s view 😉)
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Indigo Bunting
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White-throated Sparrow
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Purple Martin
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Great Blue Herons
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Our July has been hot and humid, with temps reaching the 90’s, making it feel like a 100°F plus.
Great Blue Herons got it right being by and in the water all day long. Standing on the shore drenched in my own sweat, I feel tempted to join them!
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Great Blue Heron at sunrise
Eastern Neck NWR
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Great Blue Heron preparing to strike
Chesapeake Farms
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The Strike
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Good soaking but no success
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Shake it off to try again
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Great Blue Heron success
Chesapeake Farms
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Great Blue Heron trying to catch a breeze
Eastern Neck NWR
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Another tasty meal (eel, snake, or salamander)
Eastern Neck NWR
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Bay Photos by Donna 