Dragonfly watching

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax
(Pups)

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata

Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella

Prince Baskettail Epitheca cynosure

Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus

Common Ringlet Coenonympha tullia

Moth sp. (ID pending)

‘Quiet Place’ in NDG, June 8, 2024

  And now back to our regularly-scheduled Groundhog pics of the week. Please enjoy responsibly.

  The Eastern Phoebe nest from last week appears abandoned, with large dirty cobwebs hanging over the top for dramatic effect. Still one Eastern Phoebe in the area though, circling the area and singing…for a mate that will never return/arrive? Sad if true.

  In perhaps related news, there was a Cooper’s Hawk nearby, as well as an American Crow that appeared to be trying to raid a Black-capped Chickadee nest.

  One or two Eastern Wood-pewees were still singing from the treetops, as well as a good half-dozen Red-eyed Vireos. No Warbling Vireos heard at their spot today, but it was pretty windy.

  A two-hour bimble produced 17 bird species, but more noteworthy were the other winged critters. Five different species of dragonfly were spotted in a field of chest-high grass, two of which were new for me (IDs solid, but still tentative). There was also some interesting butterfly activity.

  What else? I’ve been watching (on a flight tracking app) a steady stream of private jets come and go for the past two days, for Formula 1 weekend. Nose-to-tail all day long, a never-ending stream. Yay.