Central Ohio NatureLate Spring Celebration; A Warbler and Much More
Posted on June 15, 2017
Nature unfolds and reveals itself like a flower, first reluctantly and then with grace. Armed with just a little curiosity, looking with intention, and allowing yourself to be in the moment and place, rewards one with new wonder. Seeing and appreciating more each time.
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In the past few days, still interested in finding warblers, we visited Prairie Oaks Metro Park and closer to home Griggs Reservoir Park in the hopes of seeing a few stragglers. With the exception of the Prothonotary, the warblers didn’t cooperate but fortunately other things did. Whether it’s warblers or “other things” we’re always amazed by the celebration of life this time of year and the beauty that’s often found in the ordinary. The pictures below were taken over just a few outings, typically involving walks of at least two or three miles, sometimes longer, as we search for birds, bugs, and plants. It is a source of continuous fascination that so much can be found so close to home in central Ohio.
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A shaft of light finds grass along a stream, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
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It’s always nice when “the reptiles” decide to join the cast.
Next to the path a turtle acts none to happy about our presence, Prairie Oak Metro Park.
A Bullfrog shows a nice profile, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, (Donna).
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Still in “warbler mode” on a recent outing, we weren’t prepared for all the insects we would see.
Familiar Bluet, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, (Donna).
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, (Donna).
Inch Worm, (Donna).
Daddy Longlegs, (Donna)
Spicebush Swallowtail
Silver Spotted Skipper, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
A very common Cabbage White, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Painted Lady, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, (Donna).
Virginia Ctenucha, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
Viceroy, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
Eight-spotted Forester Moth, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, (Donna).
Large Lace-boarder Moth, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Milkweed Beetle, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Silvery Checkerspot, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, (Donna).
Green Bee on Coneflower, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Hackberry Emperor, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
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Where there are bees and butterflies there will be wildflowers or maybe it’s the other way around.
Butterfly Weed, Griggs Reservoir Park.
In grassy areas and meadows English Plantain is everywhere, Griggs Reservoir Park is no exception.
Very small bees visit the very small flowers of the English Plantain.
Hairy Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis), Griggs Reservoir Park.
Black-eyed Susans, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Thimbleweed, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Early Meadow Rue, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Day Lily, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Goatsbeard, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Moth Mullein, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Chicory, Griggs Reservoir Park.
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While we were excited to see Prothonotary Warblers nesting so close to home there was no storage of other birds to fascinate.
We’d been seeing this nesting Prothonotary Warbler for a few weeks in Griggs Reservoir Park. We finally were able to get some pictures.
It must be nesting nearby because at one point it was observed taking food to it’s young.
Preening.
No spot is missed!
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is not common this time of year in Griggs reservoir Park.
A Downy Woodpecker making effective use of it’s tail, Griggs Reservoir Park.
An adult Killdeer tries to get our attention, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
It tries a little harder, something must be going on.
Sure enough!
A male Baltimore Oriole makes it’s presence known in Griggs Reservoir Park. It’s been a great year for these birds in the park.
This Northern Flicker, often seen in a fairly localized area, must have a nest nearby, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Numerous Catbirds continue to entertain in Griggs Reservoir Park.
A Mallard keeps an eye on us as we walk along the water in Griggs Reservoir Park.
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A stream benefits from recent rain in Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
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Nature unfolds and reveals itself like a flower, first reluctantly and then with grace. May you be rewarded with new wonder, seeing and appreciating more each time.
Chipmunk, Griggs Reservoir Park.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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XXX
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Small Wonders, Summer in Central Ohio
Posted on July 14, 2015
Most of the pictures in this post are a result of my wife’s skill, tenacity, patience, and love of the small creatures that grace nature in central Ohio and so often go unnoticed. It wasn’t that long ago that I thought of insects as second class citizens. Wouldn’t you rather look at or take a picture of a warbler? Okay, many insects are essential to natures food chain, many are important for pollination, surprisingly few actually “Bug” us, but some are also amazing to watch.
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We hope you enjoy the following pictures and that you’ll also be excited to take a closer look. But be forewarned that unlike a beautiful sunset, a mountain landscape, or the spontaneous smile of a small child, these marvels must be pursued with intention to fully appreciate their wonder.
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Right in our backyard:
Black Swallowtail, (Donna)
Another view, (Donna)
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Not far from our backyard along Griggs Reservoir.
Coneflowers, (Donna)
Blue Vervain
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A very small butterfly.
Least skipper, (Donna)
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A moth, really? Judging from the number of pictures taken just to get a few good ones, it’s safe to say we got pretty excited. Not an uncommon moth but not often seen.
A Hummingbird Moth heads for a snack.
Lunch time!
This is actually pretty good!
There must be more of that stuff here somewhere.
Okay, I’ll pose and let you take my picture, Hummingbird Moth, (Donna)
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Black-eyed Susan’s in Griggs Park.
Black-eyed Susan’s
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Near waters edge, Griggs Reservoir.
Ebony Jewelwing female, (Donna)
Ebony Jewelwing female, (Donna)
Powdered Dancer, (Donna)
Stream Bluet, (Donna)
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Cup Plants.
Cup Plants along Griggs Reservoir.
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A wasp and a fly.
Wasp, (Donna)
Thick-Headed Fly, (Donna)
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Another moth, is it really?
Virginia Ctenucha, (Donna)
Virginia Ctenucha, (Donna)
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Other butterflies seen.
Summer Azure, a small butterfly, (Donna)
Silver Spotted Skipper, not uncommon, (Donna)
Silver Spotted Skipper , showing it’s silver spots, (Donna)
Red Admiral, (Donna)
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Last and in this case least, a very small moth.
Pyrausta orphisalis – Orange Mint Moth, (Donna)
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Thanks for stopping by.
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