Thursday, May 31, 2012

Hummingbird & Luna Moths,Great Blue Herons, Female Redstart, and Other Flora and fauna of The Vermilon River. A Post to SWF.

 Most of the photos were taken on the west side of the River. The day was overcast, but the sun came though occasionally. In the scenic photos you can see how heavy the leaf canopy is now, making it harder for camera settings and focusing. A great deal of the post is devoted to butterflies and quite rare moths.  The insects are all out in full force now as the forest floor, and the flowering trees are in bloom, while some such as the choke cherry or pin cherry will produce berries shortly. I saw my first bear sign on this hike also.
 CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE, AND WATCH THE SLIDE SHOW. I'll use captions as the post is long as usual.
Chestnut-sided Warbler.

 This series of close ups clearly shows how ornate his plumage is.

 I was really lucky to spot this female American Redstart as they're so small and flighty.
Male Redstart

 This is my first Great Blue Heron sighting of the year. In the second photo you can see his trailing plumes.
Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue.

In Flight Mallards.

Female Red-winged Blackbird.

Female Red-winged Blackbird.

 I hardly ever include photos taken at my feeders. But this series of Goldfinches was taken there.
Female Goldfinch.

Male Goldfinch

Female Purple Finch.

 This Robin was having difficulty balancing in a cedar tree in a high wind on the River bank.
 This Raven followed me for a while and then settled to observe..
Raven

 The next series shows the hummingbird, or Clearwing Moth. They're about the size of  the top of your thumb. It's very easy to mistake them for hummingbirds, however, as they hover, and have a  long feeding tube to suck the nectar from the flower. They're peculiar to North America, although Europe apparently has a variation, which is an example of convergent evolution . They tend to swarm and are quite a sight. Google Wiki and you'll get more facts.
Close up of the Clear Winged Moth.

 This is one of the largest moths, the Luna Moth. They're about 4-5cm in length. They live about 7 days, producing one generation of offspring this far north. Further south it's more. The first photo is of the bottom of the moth, while the second two are of the top. I think this is a male. Again Google Wikipedia for more information


Top Side.

Close Up Top Side showing feather like antennae .

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Juvenal's Dusky Wing.

Mourning Cloak.

Long Dash Skipper?

Long Dash Skipper?

Unknown.

 This is a summer azure. I did not enlarge him to give you some idea of the size of some of these Butterflies. Also I make no attempt to identify the Dragonflies. The butterflies and moths are bad enough to deal with.
American Lady

Northern Crescent.

Black & White Dragonfly.

Same

Brown Dragonfly.

Same

Coltsfoot.

Devil's Paintbrush.

Dogwood?

 These are wild Forget-Me-Nots growing on the bank of the River. They're about the size of your small finger nail.
Skipper On Wild Strawberries.

Star Flowers.

The first of the aquatics, a yellow lily. A Post to SWF  , Camera Critters and Scenic Sunday. Just a note to Texwisgirl if she drops by: I'm trying  to feed the butterflies as you do. I cut up some orange, lemon and lime, and put it in in hanging dish yesterday. Nothing so far but its been cold and windy. Any more tips for me.

62 comments:

  1. Don't see such beautiful moth very often. It's pity they only live for a few days.

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  2. Just so amazing as always. Neat that the raven followed you for a while and then settled down to watch...he's just decided that you belong out there as much as he does. And he's right!! I love the moths -- have never seen such great pictures of them. Thanks for the hike!

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  3. Wonderful array of photographs. The luna moth is a little scary looking.

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  4. I always enjoy all of your shots so much. I envy you all the butterfly and moths this week. Not sure why I'm not seeing more of them yet this season.

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  5. I love your photos, particularly the birds. But they are all a pleasure to look at.

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  6. Such gorgeous warblers! And butterflies too. Lovely.

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  7. i like the devil's paintbrush - had those in wisconsin where i grew up. the chestnut-sided are beautiful!

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  8. Hohh...hoijaa...
    Mahtava sarja taasen uusia tuttavuuksia -
    hienosti kuvattuina.
    Katselin ja ihastelin.
    Värikkäitä Lintuja ja Perhosia.
    Onhan siellä joitakin lajeja jotka viihtyvät meilläkin.
    Tervehtien Eko

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  9. Hi Gary

    As always a wonderful post. The photos of the Chestnut-sided Warbler were just great, the photo of the female Goldfich was really charming and might be my favorite but the Robin in his dramatic tree top pose was a close second.

    I will not even mention the great collection of moth and butterfly shots because I don't want all the praise to go to your head.

    All the best to you and your buddy Boomer.

    Guy

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  10. another fabulous week of nature study photos, so much to see and enjoy, thanks for sharing

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  11. Gorgeous birds and butterflies, Gary, and your photos are superb as always. I love the flowers and soft colors. Thanks for sharing the beauty! Hope you and Boomer have a great weekend!

    Sylvia

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  12. thanks Gary as always for taking us on an adventure into nature up close...the luna moths are amazing!

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  13. Beautiful shots. I liked that big moth.

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  14. nature at its best. you photographed them well.

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  15. Fabulous photo variety! The blue sky behind the male restart is gorgeous!

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  16. All of your bird photos are stunning, but the photos of the moths are absolutely riveting! Oh, the wonders of nature!

    Western Sky & Road

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  17. Love the variety in this post, Gary, most are unfamiliar to me.

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  18. You made my day. I found some flowers, I think they've spread from som garden, but I didn't know the name. And here I found it. Thank you -"Devil's Paintbrush".
    As usual you present so many grat pictures and I lover the blue heron.
    Best whishes
    Mormor Norway.

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  19. Great series, Gary! I love the birds and the luna moth is really cool. Great captures.

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  20. So many great photos, but I couldn't find the slideshow?

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  21. Oh, I do love your pictures of butterflies. Superb.

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  22. Wonderful close-ups of the birds and butterflies. I especially like the photos of the Great Blue Heron--great capture!!

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  23. Great set of nature photos...

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  24. The blooms and birds were wonderful, as usual, but I especially enjoyed the dragonflies.

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  25. All your pics are a delight Garry but I absolutely love that little female goldfinch .. So pretty with the softest of colourings. Hope you and Boomer have a great weekend!

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  26. I like the Luna Moth. I've never seen one like it.

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  27. I love that first colorful bird and the heron - great shots!

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  28. Love that chestnut sided wabler! And that moth is amazing. All great shots.

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  29. great captures especially the butterflies.

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  30. These photos are stunning. The one of the Robyn is fantastic.

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  31. Excellent post with lots of stunning pics. All are beautifully captured. Thanks for sharing, love it :)

    Visit u back.
    www.womenandperspectives.com

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  32. What a marvelous feast of birds and butterflies and wild flowers. Wonderful post!

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  33. Once again, amazing series of photos. I love the finches, moths and butterflies, and of course, the forgetmenots are my favorite flower. Always nice to scroll through your post. Have a great weekend. Mickie :)

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  34. Gary,The windblown Robin was my fave!

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  35. Hi there - great set of shots. I agree, dragonflies are very hard to ID. I had a poor summer for butterfly shots - well there is always next year.

    Stewart M - Australia

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  36. That's a great collection of birds again, but I specially love your photo's of the butterflies this time.

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  37. The Warbler is so lovely and the Redstart, quite the beauty. You got some great Butterfly and moth images as well. Oh me, just to say, I like the whole series;')~

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  38. Wow!The luna moth is a rare find.

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  39. What an array of wonderful creatures. The Luna moth is very beautiful.

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  40. That's a geat series of shots you have here! I love the Goldfinch! You have everything from birds to butterflies, dragonflies, flowers and lovely reflections!

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  41. Gary,a great post again...love those butterflies but my favourite is the balancing Robin:)Have a great weekend!

    Shantana

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  42. Goldfinch and Redstart shots are lovely.

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  43. Beautiful, beautiful pictures you show. Wau, I say to Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, a super beautiful butterfly. Wishing you a good weekend :)

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  44. You've got so many beautiful photos but I really love the one of the Warbler with his little beak open.

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  45. What a busy series of photographs in this one post. I'm like you at times, hard pressed in deciding what and which to post.

    Very nice, Gary!

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  46. Very beautiful place, and the birds are just lovely. Good close up shots of the butterflies and insects.

    Have a good weekend.

    Alexander
    Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

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  47. I have never seen a Luna Moth; out of this world. Your butterflies are gorgeous!

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  48. What an amazing collection of flora and fauna--spring has arrived indeed!
    I had a blue heron 'bark' at me in the reeds at water's edge today. Life is good!
    p.s. A luna moth! I've never seen one up close. Such a beautiful color too.

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  49. The goldfinch and the butterflies are gorgeous.

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  50. There are many beautiful photos. They are very fantastic. I enjoyed them very much.

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  51. Beautiful bird pictures and the others too. What amazes me is that you know all bird names ! To me a bird is a bird, I just know a few like robins, sparrows ...

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  52. The goldfinch and luna Moth are so beautiful and pretty in colors. Have a great weekend!

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  53. Wonderful series of captures... must have been a great time taking them

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  54. Hello Gary, i am new here, just got in via CC. How productive your hikes are in terms of photography subjects. We probably don't have the same species because we are in the hot tropics, but i love those creatures and photos you got here.

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  55. Thanks everyone for your visit. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River.

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  56. Hi there - given the number of species that have been introduced into Australia, I not really surprise a few have gone the other way!

    SM

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