New Visitor 9-3-12

Today we were visited by a Long-tailed Skipper! It's only the third one we've ever seen! Wasn't sure if it's rare or not, but guide said they live in AZ, TX, and over to FL. They stray to the East Coast and as far north as CN.....

 The body top and attached edge of wings is iridescent green or blue green...

 It darted around like a speeding bullet! Finally was hungry enough so we could get it's picture....

Night and Day

 WandaGene flew all the way down to visit milkweed at Patuxent River Park!....

 Two pictures taken by my buddy, Doris, in the PRP butterfly garden.

Fritillary.... 

 Tiger Swallowtails....

 At home, a Painted Lady visited the lantana...

 On the underside, the hindwing has 4 spots before the edge. An almost identical species has 2 large spots there. Scientists are calling it the American Painted Lady! Always something.....

 Cloudless Giant Sulphur on salvia. They migrate northward in late summer...

Fowl and Fauna!

From Dark to Bright

On Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Park, some black vultures sat in our old almost dead oak tree near the Visitor's Center. Tree still has a few branches with leaves.....

 Two lucky staff ladies went out to monitor the bluebird boxes and my buddy, Doris, sent me these pictures. These are young ready to fledge. I've never seen such beautiful colors, except from lucky Lynne!....

Deer, Deer Everywhere

 At Chelsea on Wed., August 22, we saw the largest group of deer in a long time. About a dozen nibbled through the field. If you enlarge you can see one rowdy on the right!.....

 The deer on the far right below was part of a game of chase with another yearling. They ran in huge circles around the whole herd! Later another young pair did the same thing!....

 Some of the bucks are getting large antlers....

 Here's Big Boy....

 Little Spotty on the left leads them along....

More Dear Deer & Mystery Flower 8-17-12

Friday, when driving down to farmhouse office, we were lucky to see a fawn grazing near the roadside. I told the car (grayish SUV) to pretend it was a friendly elephant and not frighten Spotty!..... 

 It worked!! Spotty continued to nibble in a patch with the lavender Mystery flower....

 I've only seen this flower at this time of year at Chelsea. It appears in areas where the grass has NOT been cut. It has the long, oval dark green leaves and stem in the middle of pic. It has a few large leaves at the base, one medium size at each fork in the stem and 3 small green leaves (or sepals) at the base of the flower head.I hope someone can identify it. TY......

In the afternoon, two young bucks appeared who are starting to grow antlers. They really like the pokeweed.... 

 "These horns itch!"......

 Afternoon nap in the field....

 Little Spotty came grazing near the big boys, but everybody stayed peaceful....

 Later we saw our special Ms. Hoppy. We thought she might be the mother of this fawn, but we didn't see them together while we were there. Another mystery!....

Friday's Fauna and Flora 8-3-12

At Chelsea Farmhouse Office, we saw Triplets & Mom on side of the building.....

 One came close enough to see the spots.....

 Everybody's in the field! They did move across to the left and into the woods.....

 After work decided to do a Paw Paw search. We haven't seen any fruit along the road next to the office. Drove down dirt road to back of property and some black vulture's were on a barn roof. Only one stayed around....

 Only saw two pairs of fruit on two Paw Paw trees on either side of a creek valley that has road above it ending with covered bridge. We don't know if the season is over already or there wasn't much of one due to weather!?..

At Last!!!!

A House Grows in Texas!!!....

Critter Visits

Ospreys at Patuxent. Adult.....

 Juvenile female....

 The Chelsea turkey family strolled through the backyard towards the woods. At first one adult silhouette in shadows, seen through the window was shaped like a peacock!!!....

At Home 

A squirrel came on windowsill again to visit Scooter...

 It stayed to eat a peanut!....

 Monday's Night Visitor!!!!......