Things with Wings: Visits to Hopkinton State Park and BHCL

Monday, August 24, 2015

Visits to Hopkinton State Park and BHCL

I saw a father Northern Cardinal feeding a juvenile today in my backyard. I wish they were not so jumpy. I had to take the photo through my sliding door and further between the slats of the deck railing. I lost a lot of detail, but at least I have a photo! When I tried to sneak outside, they both were the first to leave the yard.

Northern Cardinal feeding offspring

I was able to catch a photo of a Northern Flicker that was quite occupied digging in the dirt near my feeders.

Northern Flicker

White-Breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

I kept hoping the sun would come out by the time I took my lunch break, but it was not to be. I decided to check out shorebird potential at Hopkinton State Park. It ranged from sprinkling to a crack of sun to totally threatening during my walk. At least there was no thunder or lightning!

I was surprised to find a Pearl Crescent on the main beach. It was smaller than most I have seen this year, so I will assume it is from a second brood. I've heard second brood butterflies are often smaller than the first brood of the season.

Pearl Crescent (fresh, but small)

Purple-Headed Sneezeweed

Dock-Leaved Smartweed (native)

Showy Tick-Trefoil

Spotted Sandpipers

Showy Tick-Trefoil

Black-Eyed Susan

American Goldfinch

Eastern Amberwing dragonfly

Square-Pod Water Primrose (native)

(unconfirmed ID)

closeup

Song Sparrow w/ lunch

American Copper

After work, the sun came out! I headed over to Breakneck Hill Conservation Land to look for butterflies! Freddie and I walked around and enjoyed what sun remained during the last hours of the evening. It was gorgeous.