A bird in the hand

Today I had the rare privilege of holding a Pine Warbler in my hands.  I was sweeping away the green and yellow leaves from my door and caught a glimpse of a clump (even got a peep!).  I just swept a bird!  I scooped it up and held it for about 20 minutes.  Most likely stunned from hitting the glass storm door, it did not object to my hands or my cooing.  I couldn't leave it for my camera, I just soaked it in and warmed it.  It did fly from my hands and as I clapped in celebration I realized I needed to wash my hands good.   :)

The photo has nothing to do with my little story, but here is a male Kingfisher from a couple days ago.  The battles for territory have been great this past week.  This shot is closely cropped, these birds are hard to catch with the camera and I could never imagine one in my hands.
The migrants such as the Warblers and the residents such as the Kingfisher are all welcome and every view is new and different.  But a bird in the hand is simply incredible.

Pensive frog

Headed out the door this morning just as the rain began I spotted this little one on my rocks.  It has a very serious look which I thought 'pensive'.  Just google 'pensive frog' and you will find me in good company.

My pensive frog is sending a message, perhaps 'leave me alone'.  The look says it all , no?

The blue ones

"The blue ones are very good you know,"  this little tree frog seems to say as he finishes his morning meal of damsel fly.  I was surprised to find one eating in the morning. They are typically sleeping or positioning a spot to manage the heat of the day.

Swallowtail with no tail

Here is the Red-spotted Purple Swallowtail.  It has all the look of a typical swallowtail without the long tails on the hind wings.

This one has the specific Eastern US characteristic of the red orange spots on the forward wing top edges.
The underside has plenty of red spots and is a show on it's own.

So pretty, especially so on my Beauty Berry bush.

Leopard frogs

Maybe the wet summer brought them in, but we are loaded with Leopard frogs.  They are especially fond of the herbs and greens.  Just walk by and they start jumping!

Here is one trying to bury itself in the cool soil of an empty bed.  Maybe just for the day, like a mud bath at a spa!

And another in the bed of Field Crest.  My herbs and greens are frog approved!

Butterflies

So busy this morning, but I made it out to dead head my flowers before lunch time.  I was so captivated by the sheer numbers of butterflies that I traded in my clippers for my camera.

Skippers, the large swallow tails, fritillaries, painted ladies, sulfurs and more!  Newest fav is the long tailed skipper shown below.  Gorgeous blue back on this large skipper!

I have so many zinnias, a result from regular dead heading of the flowers through the summer.

A swallowtail hangs on the salvia.

Another sits on a bright zinnia.

 Two battle out for this pink zinnia's offerings.

So many swallowtails!  And of course the fall standard, the sulfur, on my false dragons..

Seagull Time

I know the season is changing because the birds are changing.  Ospreys have long fledged and moved on, Crows that love the Osprey fish scrap are plying other opportunities.  Grackles, Barn Swallows, and Blackbirds are no longer heard.  The high perch is still visited by a Kingfisher, a year round resident.  Today it was occupied by a Seagull.  The Seagulls are absent in the summer but show up in the fall, probably scavenging far and wide from the regular course.
Large gulls fly in and you look hard trying to make out an Osprey that is not there, an Egret that no longer moves back and forth across the sound. 
When the Gulls show up Fall is nigh.  They are here.  On the bright side my winter favorites are planning their trip down.  I can't wait to hear the honks!