Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Daily Pics 2020, #72.
Good morning to everyone! I hope your day is off to a great start. I was watching the sun set last night and after the sun had disappeared some clouds came along and filled the horizon. They looked like large gray mountains against the pale blue sky. Didn’t stay that way long though and they leveled out to look more like clouds once again. The evenings are so much longer now since the time change, really makes the day feel different. But I like those long evenings, especially as we get into summer and daylight lingers well after 10pm. And of course it’s daylight by 4 am which is even nicer for guys like me. I’m a morning person, which of course you already knew. So I enjoy getting up early in the summer, going out on the deck with my coffee and listening to the morning chorus of birds. So nice indeed.
And as I mentioned, more birds for us to look at today…
Here we have both the male (yellow) and female evening grosbeak. I showed the male a short time ago but wanted to show the 2 of them together.
And here is the male purple finch, which we have around now, but they get a brighter red once spring fully arrives. Even their beak often takes on a more pinkish color. Tomorrow I think we will be back with some more bright flowers once again. I hope you have a very enjoyable day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
Darting Dragonflies, #3.
Hello again everyone on this cool Wednesday! Well, here we are, back with our third look at these wonderful acrobatic insects. They come in all kinds of different sizes around here from about 3 inches (7.5cm) long to about 5 inches (12.5cm) long. Plus male and female dragonflies are often different colors which helps to make things a bit more confusing in trying to identify these beauties. Most dragonflies have their wings spreading out directly from the side, but some, like the ones we will see today, have their wings pointing forwards. At least while they are sitting at rest anyway.
So, let’s take a look at today’s pics…
Here is one of the forward winged dragonflies in a nice golden color. These are among the shorter variety at about 3 inches. Dragonflies have nearly 360 degree vision, the only direction they can’t see is directly behind them.
And here is a red version of the above golden variety. It’s quite possible they are the same species, just one is male and one is female. The only problem with my theory is the fact there is also a dark version too. I’m not sure if it’s black or dark blue as I haven’t been able to get close enough for a picture yet. Perhaps this year. The dark ones are hard to find compared to the other two.
A large group of dragonflies is called a “swarm” and many species of dragonflies migrate south each year in large swarms. They truly are an interesting and amazing insect to watch each summer and many of them have such beautiful colors as well. There we have this week’s look at these fascinating fliers of the insect world, I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 