Ruby-throated Hummingbird

"Teach us to live like Hummingbird.  Optimally, energetically, with sweetness and patience, fierceness and longevity.  When we become Hummingbird, we map the great journey and we learn to master time.  When we do this, everything, every moment becomes sacred.  If even for a moment in an otherwise hectic day you create sacred space to honor the Hummingbird within, you will notice very quickly that the journey carries more sweet seconds to it than it did before."  ~ from "Becoming Hummingbird" by Jane Galer

Rain Squalls at Sunset

The setting sun lit up rain squalls over Lake Erie this evening.

Proud Momma

This is one of the female Hummingbirds that is bringing her little ones to our flower gardens and feeders.

Fledgling Hummingbirds

There are three fledgling Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the yard today, learning to eat from the feeders.  They are still quite clumsy and cute to watch.

Checking out the Coneflower, but it doesn't have the nectar they are fond of.

The Rare Monarch Butterfly

This is the first Monarch Butterfly that I've seen this year.  Experts are saying that their numbers are down by 80% this summer because of the drought and excessive heat that occurred during the summer of 2012.  Only 60 million of them wintered in Mexico compared to the average of 350 million.  How many have you seen this summer?

The Green Flash

The elusive green sunset flash appeared this evening over Lake Erie while I watched from my back yard.  Unfortunately, I didn't catch it with the camera but it was the first time I had ever seen it.  The top rim of the sun flashed into a bright emerald green color for a brief second or two.  If you've never heard of the green flash before, here is a good article that explains the phenomenon:  http://www.universetoday.com/47607/green-flash-sunset/

The buildings visible on the horizon in this photo are in Nanticoke, Ontario.

Savannah Sparrow

The Savannah Sparrow is a southern bird that migrates north to breed in grassy areas on farms, in swamps or any place that provides them with low vegetation.

Tiger Swallowtail

Butterfly populations are very low this summer.  I was very happy to see and photograph a Tiger Swallowtail this morning.

Cumulonimbus

Cumulonimbus thunderhead clouds building in the southern sky this evening.

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Waxing Gibbous Moon

71% of Full

Hot Summer Color

Daylily Macro

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker spread out on a branch and panting in the near ninety degree heat.

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole eating grape jelly from the feeder.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

This is one of the more common wood warblers to be found in the area around our residence.

Sunset Over Lake Erie

Common Yellowthroat Warbler

Pearl Crescent Butterfly

This tiny brush-footed butterfly has a wingspan that is less than two inches.

Clearwing Hummingbird Moths

The Hummingbird Moths made a late appearance this year but they're finally out and about!

Male Widow Skimmer Dragonfly

Grasshopper Sparrow

This guy was a real treat for me to find since they are listed as a species of "special concern" by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

He was quite talkative too!

American Avocets

Three American Avocets on the beach in Dunkirk this afternoon.  They are hundreds of miles out of their normal range but are great wanderers and known to show up on the Great Lakes at times.

Bunting in the Berries

Spotted an Indigo Bunting again today in some wild blackberries.

Great Spangled Fritillary

Indigo Bunting

Male

Female

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Mourning Warblers

Female

Male

Veery

In my opinion, the Veery sings one of the most beautiful songs that can be heard in the northern forests during the summer.  They have two voice boxes, like all songbirds, but can make some very special sounds.  If you've never heard it, listen to their song at the following link:  http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/veery/sounds

American Redstart

This sweet little wood warbler is slightly smaller than a Black-capped Chickadee.

Honey Bee on a Daisy

Bees are in trouble due to pesticides and genetically modified organisms in our environment.  Albert Einstein is quoted as saying "If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live."  I don't know if that would truly be the case, but it is my humble opinion that pesticide use needs to be scaled back and replaced with organic farming methods before it's too late and we have to find out the answer the hard way.

Great Blue Heron in Flight

House Wren

Singing in the rain!

Gray Catbird