A female Downey Head Woodpecker found the Mullen plant to her liking this morning as she spent quite a bit of time hunting and then pecking away for a meal.
She inspected the plant then with target in sight and eyes closed tight she pecked away like only a woodpecker can peck.
Then back again for another round on the beautiful Mullen plant.
This Marmot looks like they are just about ready for winter as their fuel tanks look to be topped off. Well just perhaps one or two more meals as long as the weather is fine before heading into the burrow for 5-6 months.
As summer comes to a close a Lorquins Admirals wings tell the tale of a summer passed.
It’s safe to say those scared and faed wings have served them well. Flying strong with colors bright to find a mate and produce a new generation of butterflies we can look upon with wonder when summer returns again.
A Common Loon adds a bit of sunshine to what ended up being a cloudy day.
It’s always nice to have a little company while out on a hike and this day it seemed we always had one of these beautiful Pink Edged Sulfur butterflies fluttering about either in front or along side of us as we made our way along the trail.
They seldom seemed to take a break from their flight. Luckily one did and that gave us a chance for a close up look before they lifted off fluttered way.
Earlier this summer we got lucky and happened to walk under a nice old cottonwood tree and heard the unmistakable sound of little newborn birds chirping away for food. The nest in the tree belong to a family of Bullocks Orioles and like all oriole nest was well hidden in the leaves of the tree. It was amazing how rapidly the parents would fly into the tree, deliver the meals, and then fly back out making it somewhat difficult to get a photo or two.
Both parents we equally active in delivering meals to the kids. Above the male delivers some freshly caught bugs.
within minutes of the males departing Mom flew in and delivered another meal for to the growing chicks.
If this meal is any indiction of what the kids were eating I think the youngsters were well fed that day.
The youngsters have fledged and the nest is long empty now as another summer has come and gone.
Summer 2017 Denver, CO.
An American Robin surveys the surroundings from a burnt tree which matches their color quite well. This fire happened long ago but burnt trees still fill the landscape even as decades have passed.
It’s always a treat when a Male Common Yellowthroat pops out of the cattails and sits quietly for a minute or two. Just close enough to get a good look and soak up all that wonderful color.
The other day I saw a yellow flash land in a nice cedar tree. Thinking it was an unusual insect I quickly went over to get a look. Alas, it was not a new insect but a Honey Bee and to say this one was covered in pollen might be an understatement. This little bee could hard fly with the load they had acquired. After a few minutes of rest they slowly lifted off and headed back to the hive. A job well done.
A fine looking female Yellow Headed Blackbird makes the most of a soft cattail in the marsh.
nature has no boss 
You must be logged in to post a comment.