We had a chance to go to Hillsdale today to meet some good friends, and afterward, I talked the guys into going for a walk around the lake. Sometimes it feels so good to get away from electronic things, even if it’s just for an hour. There was a detour near Lake Baw Beese, so we turned back to Lewis Emery Park and found access.
We were delighted to see all the dragonflies!
An adult male Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly!
I’m guessing this is an early season female Autumn Meadowhawk. They become more red as time goes on. See how she has the reddish cap over her eyes, and the slight reddish color on her thorax? The males are a beautiful scarlet color and are smaller.
I think this is a Widow Skimmer dragonfly. Male? It was hiding behind the leaf and moved every time I did! The abdomen and the thorax were metallic blue.
We saw a lot of these Halloween Pennants. See the bright red “marginal cell” on the top of each wing? This one is perched on a long-leafed plantain flower.
Another Halloween Pennant on a pink Lady’s Thumb flower!
I saw this strange specimen crouched by the forest path. Beau was working to get an “interesting” shot!
We also saw a Red Spotted Purple Admiral butterfly.
We ran into the Great Blue heron, and noticed his right knee. Not sure what that was about.
It felt good to get onto the shady wooded path. Even though it was hazy, the sun was pretty hot around the lakes. As we walked along, the frogs that were hidden by the path jumped into the water.
Not sure about this little bird. Some kind of finch? Immature? She sat and sang a single note over and over while we walked the wooded path.
It was hard to leave such a beautiful place, but there is always work to be done, so we headed home. But the day just continued to be incredibly beautiful, and we thanked God for the uplift it gave our spirits!
Have you ever heard these called “Shredded Wheat for Elephants”?
Beau took this on the way home: Old-fashioned sheaves, near an Amish farm, drying in the sun.
Hope you are uplifted as well! Have a wonderful day!
The Fullers Four 