This was a day of flycatchers. Two somewhat similar-looking species this time of year: an Eastern Wood-Pewee (above) and an Eastern Phoebe off the bridge by Harlem (below).
Red-winged Blackbirds were flocking up against the cloudy sky.
Someone must eventually eat the Elderberries. I’ve never seen anyone eating them, but they’re getting ripe. I have to pay closer attention to this, especially because I planted one bush in my backyard two years ago and it is huge and overflowing with fruit.
I think there are two bees in the photo below, which makes it look rather confusing.
I looked up and there was a Turkey Vulture flying overhead.
My eyes returned to what was in front of me, and I found a more recognizable bee on a Prairie Coneflower.
Also on a coneflower, a Delaware Skipper not much bigger than the bee.
I became captivated by the little Eastern Wood-Pewee who is at the top of the post. Just sat and posed…
I was so eager to see warblers, I mistook this Warbling Vireo for one earlier. My apologies. Here it returns as what it really is.
No surprise, a young Baltimore Oriole hunting for treats in the leaves.
There were some American Crows.
And a whimsical American Robin.
A White-breasted Nuthatch was blending in to the morning’s color scheme.
An American Goldfinch stood guard over the duckweed.
That would be the end of this post as the remaining photos were not-very-engaging faraway silhouettes against a gray sky. But I think we have a little more room, so here are some photos from July 23. It was the last time I got a good look at a Great-crested Flycatcher. There turned out to be a family of four. Here is the one who posed for me.
Two Common Whitetail dragonflies were on hand, male on the left and female on the right.
I took note of the flooding off trail.
And a young Baltimore Oriole for good measure
Wait a minute at the bridge by Harlem and the American Goldfinches return.
It is Very Hot today, as predicted, and as long as I don’t move around too much it is a comfortable, dry 80 degrees Fahrenheit indoors. My indoor crowd is enjoying the sunshine, but it looks like we could be clouding up a bit and get some well-needed rain later. Cool us off for tomorrow and maybe bring some warblers down with it. I’ll be back.
Another feast.
Right now it’s a feast for the birds, too.
Well when the birds are a little scare go to the bees, the moths, the butterflies and the dragon flies. I admit that does intrigue me a little to look beyond just birds and dog scat on the trail. The plump red berries do look enticing and hopefully the Cedar Waxwing, warblers and others with begin dining on them in the next several weeks.
Thanks for your comment, Bob. Warblers and others have started to show up with the winds shifting and some storm activity we had Tuesday night. I will be reporting shortly, I hope. For what it’s worth, I had a Hermit Thrush in the backyard by the pokeweed yesterday morning. And I have seen a couple Swainson’s lately. Saturday could be good at Columbus Park.
Happy hunting in Montana.