'A Bestiary' ~ Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker has been back since the buds began to swell. You can see and learn more about this industrious woodpecker by visiting Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. This was my last installment on Woodpeckers. 

Flying into another season to pick berries with a Cedar Waxwing . . . or not!  

 Hopefully the Viburnum will give a great bounty of berries again this summer. 

'A Bestiary' ~ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is the second featured woodpecker for my -  'A Bestiary' . . . antidotal tales and more about the wildlife living around Flower Hill Farm Retreat.

Male

Female

Juvenile

You can see more images and the stories that go along by clicking on Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are beautiful and very resourceful birds and are welcome members in any avian community.

Red-tailed Hawk Within A Wintry Landscape

Our resident Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a creature of habit. Early mornings and late afternoons I often sight this beautiful raptor perched on the same branch in more or less exactly the same location within a stately Oak.

'A Bestiary' ~ Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

I have been very fortunate to have a few wonderful encounters and sightings of these large woodpeckers. They have now joined with other beasts in my fourteenth installment of 'A Bestiary' posted over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. You can see more photos of these and other Pileated Woodpeckers and the stories that go with them by clicking HERE.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Our terrace garden is mostly made up of varieties of salvias and fuchsias.

 Terra cotta pots are placed out and fully planted mostly for New England's only hummingbird . . . the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, who visits often during the spring and summer months. It is a joy each year to observe breeding hummingbirds in our gardens. As the first day of winter approaches, I imagine the immature male and female below are now settled somewhere in Central America.

WISHING ALL THE HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS!

PEACE ON EARTH

GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL LIFE

Painted Lady and American Lady Butterflies

The discerning eye can pick out the intricate forms of colors found on the wings of the Painted Lady butterfly and not confuse it with the very similar American Lady butterfly. 

Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui enjoying Buddelia. 

American Lady, Vanessa virginiensis feeding on spring lilac 'Miss Kim'.

Painted Ladies on Buddelia.

Painted Lady on native Ironweed. 

Note the Painted Lady (above) has smaller eyes on the hindwing whereas the American Lady (below) has only two larger eyes on its hindwing.

There are many other differences too. 

Studying butterflies can surely enrich the way one learns to see.

Releasing Monarch Butterflies

The last of the Monarch Butterflies have flown away . . . a magical and seasonal ritual comes to an end . . .  for me at least . . . until another year. Monarch migration is well under way with millions of Monarch butterflies on their way to Mexico. If you would like to learn more you can visit here .