Green Heron

I drove over to the Fafard Condominium complex on Queen Isabella Way in Ashland during lunch, hoping to find some butterflies in the meadow there on the front part of the road.  At first, it didn't seem like it was going to be a very exciting nature hike, but in the end, I was quite happy with the results!

Green Heron (immature)

Because the goldfinch (below) was such a cooperative subject, I was taking multiple pictures in the same spot, near the wildlife pond (full of cattails with no life visible).  Apparently, this Green Heron was fishing down there, became irritated or frightened by the camera noise and flew off into this tree on the edge of the pond.  BONANZA!!!!  My first close up of a Green Heron!  Click on the photo if you want to see an enlargement.  Don't you just love herons?....and what a neck on this type!

Update:  According to Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies, "When alarmed, it stretches its neck, elevates a shaggy crest and jerks its tail.  Immature has a streaked neck."  (Frightened by the camera noise, it is!)

Other wildlife in the meadow included:

Eastern-tailed Blue

Monarch (male) (looks like he has a wing deformity)

Painted Lady on clover

Orange Sulphur on clover

Painted Lady on Queen Anne's Lace

Lady bug on Queen Anne's Lace

American Goldfinch (male) eating Thistle seeds.  (Thank you, Mr. Goldfinch!)

Not bad!  Not bad at all!