A Visit to Drumlin Farm

I took a late afternoon walk at Drumlin Farm, staying primarily in Boyce Field.  Before I even arrived at the flower field, a Giant Swallowtail flew by me (near the bird cages).  I never saw it again, but it was a thrill to see my first one for Massachusetts for 2016.

Here are the other highlights:

in the deer area

Great Spangled Fritillary

another

Spicebush Swallowtails (three at once)

Spicebush

Hollyhock

American Goldfinch

another

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Bluebird

Monarch

again

Pretty afternoon!   The drought was very apparent in the fields, and the flowers are definitely not as robust as other years.

Catching up on Recent BHCL Visits

I haven't been getting out as much, and even so, I haven't been keeping up with my blog well either.  Excuses aside.  I will attempt to catch up with the highlights from my recent visits to Breakneck Hill Conservation Land.  It is a pretty spot, in spite of our drought conditions.

8/16:

  

Common Ringlet

American Copper

A bizarre pile of scat (for those who find that sort of thing interesting)

American Goldfinch

It's the season for beautiful Goldfinch poses

Spicebush Swallowtail

8/17:

Common Sootywing

Monarch

skipper

Black Swallowtail

Common Ringlet

8/18:

Peck's Skipper

American Copper

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (juvenile)

Spicebush Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

8/23:

Bath time!

 Blue Vervain

Black Swallowtail

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Gray Hairstreaks

American Goldfinch

8/26:

Gray Hairstreak

Gray Hairstreak

Eastern Tailed-Blue

two ETBs fighting over the same flower

Red-Tailed Hawks (I think one is a juvenile)

Peck's Skipper on Blue Vervain

and on Coneflower