Wild Indigo Duskywing, Sachems, Prairie Warbler

Some recent butterflies and birds in late September 2011. First, a Prairie Warbler at the CACC on 26 Sept. Then, representing the Grass Skippers, some female Sachems, with a focus on nectaring, at Lighthouse Point and home garden. Finally, representing the Spread-winged Skippers, a Wild Indigo Duskywing on 25 Sept at Lighthouse Point

16 Sept 11 More Golden Plover at Mlf Pt

Today at least 5 Golden Plover (presumably all American) in the company of Red Knots (good view of R Knot bill in picture #3), Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Black-bellied Plover at Milford Point: 2 on end of spit with Whimbrel; 3 on Cedar Beach section. Of the Cedar Beach birds, two, the ones not right next to the water were very dark with much gold specking. The other, next to the water, looked like the birds photographed yesterday.

American Golden Plover, Dunlin Mlf Pt 15 Sept

A few American Golden Plover dropped onto Milford Point to join the many shorebirds already there, including a Whimbrel, many Black Skimmers, Black-bellied Plover, Mute Swans, DC Cormorants, Common Terns, and tons of Semipalmated SPs, Sanderling, a few Least Sps, Western SPs, Ruddy Turnstones, and Dunlin. A Peregrine Falcon tired 5 times to catch a single Semi SP but missed. N Harrier also buzzed the sandbar to no avail.

Buckeye, Gray Hairstreak at home

Two butterflies at home on 14 Sept 2011.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Mlf Pt, 9/11/11

A series of pictures (an one video) of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the Milford Point sandbar I photographed for about 90 minutes (10-11:30 AM) this tenth anniversary of 9/11. Thanks to Dennis Varga and Charlie Barnard for locating it. Photos not too sharp, but it never stopped moving.

Recent Sept birds:YCNH, Indigo Bunting, B&W Warbler

First, a few photos of immature Yellow-crowned Night Herons at the Ct Audubon Coastal Center at Milford Point.

Below, two female Indigo Buntings at Silver Sands SP. A Black and White Warbler held by Charlotte Weston at a banding session at the CACC.

Lighthouse Fiery, Gr Hair, Sachem 9 Sept 11

A few of the critters butterflies at Lighthouse garden today, 9 Sept 11. First,a caterpillar, probably a Yellow Bear (Virginia Tiger Moth, Spilosoma virginica) Any help with the grasshopper? Common Green Darner. Sachem female. Fiery. Dorsal and ventral of Gray Hairstreak.

Comma, Mourning Cloak Silver Sands 5 Sept 11

A week after Irene 4 Mourning Cloaks, 2 Eastern Commas at Silver Sands Sate Park, 5 Sept 11. Also, an American Lady on 31 Aug 11, and a Summer Azure on Japanese Knotweed after Irene--demonstrating the importance of invasives as nectar sources.

Baird's SP, White-r Sp, Western SP, im. Laughing Gull

Publish Post

From Milford Point, 1 and 2 Sept 11, after Hurricane Irene. The first two shots are general views, one featuring the Avocet, the other centered on Red Knots. Notice the flattened Black Skimmers. Other shorebirds include Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, SB Dowitchers (also Common Terns). Then 3 photos, taken on the Milford Pt spit around 5:00 PM on 2 Sept 11, which are fuzzy record shots of a juvenile Laughing Gull--I had trouble with the ID because it seemed too small for a Laughing Gull. Next a White-rumped SP with a Semipalmated SP at the tip of Mlfd Pt on 2 Sept. Then 3 record shots of Baird's SP on the beach in front of Smith's Point.