Best of Winter Birding

There are so many wonderful opportunities to snap bird photos during the Winter months. As I was cruising my archive, I noticed a trend. Many of my best bird images were taken during the Winter months. These images are from the states of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Most were taken in the past five years. Birding spots include Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest and the Lexington Reservoir in Kentucky, to three popular lakes in Greater Nashville, Radnor Lake, Percy Priest Lake, and of course, Old Hickory Lake. There's even an image of a Sandhill Crane captured at Ewing Bottoms, in south central Indiana, on a sunny Winter's day. I'll be making my annual pilgrimage to Louisville soon and wanted to share another Winter post before I left. I hope you are having a Happy Holiday and you are getting ready for a very Merry Christmas. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I'll try to post once more before the big day. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fall Color Preview

Fall is my all time favorite season of the year, devoid of all the holiday hustle and bustle. Yet, it brings pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins. Apple cider and hayrides, and pumpkin patches and corn mazes, and haunted houses too. We decorate our humble abodes with pumpkins and squash, hay bales and corn stalks, and pine cones and acorns. Right in the midst of the fever pitch, comes Halloween with ghosts and goblins and hooligans too. That one special night brings us ugly witches with scary spells, hairy pirates with long black swords, and fire breathing dragons and demons and more. 

Just when you think the season is nie, Thanksgiving arrives. The leaves have fallen, heaped high on the curb. The air has turned to a crispier chill. It's Thanksgiving Day with a feast to thrill. Turkey and dressing and casseroles galore. Pumpkin pie just so sweet and hot mugs of cider, what a treat. Fall, how I love thee. 

These images are from Fall's past taken throughout Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. From along the scenic byways, deep within the wildlife refuge and forest, and high up on the mountains. Fall will soon be upon us. ENJOY! 

Oh! Butterfly

Here's the next series of Butterflies as promised. Hang on, we're going Buttering again!

THE FRITILLARY

This brightly colored orange Butterfly is a Gulf Fritillary. Are you wondering why it's called the Gulf? It's because they are common only in the southern United States. That dark yet bright orange color is unmistakable in the gardens and meadows which makes them easy to spot. I captured this beautiful Gulf Fritillary in the Bradford Robertson Color Garden at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville.

I wanted to share this view of the Gulf Fritillary so that you can see just how beautiful his wings are when they are fully open. What a beautiful bright orange.

Another specifies of the Fritillary is the Great Spangled Fritillary. They are more common and are generally a dull orange with row after row of black spots covering their wings. This beautiful Great Spangled was checking out a purple Thistle at Bernheim in the wildflower meadow.

THE PAINTED LADY

Alright, I admit it. I have too many favorites in the Butterfly family. The Painted Lady is just one more I love. I think it's because when their wings are closed it as thought an artist painted a beautiful pattern on their wings. This beautiful Butterfly was busy pollenating the bushes at Bernheim Arboretum.

Here is the Painted Lady with its wings closed. Can you see what I was talking about? What a pattern. This Painted Lady I captured posting for me atop a Black Eyed Susan at Bernheim a while back.

THE BUCKEYE

Here's a Butterfly that I especially like to photograph when their wings are wide open. Look at those spots. No wonder it's called a Buckeye. These Butterflies are common throughout wildflower fields as was this beautiful Buckeye was the day I captured this image at Bernheim Arboretum some years ago.

THE HUMMINGBIRD MOTH

I couldn't resist showing you the only image I have ever captured of a Hummingbird Moth. Seriously, can you see where they got their name. Mother Nature can really create some oddities. But he is a beauty too. I captured this guy buzzing around the Butterfly Bushes at Bernheim a bit ago.

I hope you enjoyed my second series of Butterflies as I loved sharing them with you. What a variety when you look back across the last two posts. I guess I'm a 'Butter Lover'. Have a wonderful 4th. ENJOY!

The Butterfly Effect

I have never met a Butterfly I didn't like! Over the decades of photographing nature, I have captured quite a variety of species of Butterflies in their natural habitat. I never tire of watching them flittering around the flower gardens and wildflower fields in Summer. I personally consider them one of God's blessed creatures. They bring no harm to anyone and provide only joy and beauty to everyone. Hang on, we're going Buttering!

THE MONARCHS

Monarch Butterfly, Bernheim Arboretum, Clermont, Kentucky

Monarch Butterfly, Bernheim Arboretum, Clermont, Kentucky

These images of the Monarch I captured five years ago at Bernheim Arboretum in the flower gardens near the Pavilion. The Monarch Butterfly numbers have drastically declined over the course of the last decade. Now there is a new project called The Monarch Butterfly Research Project. Milkweed fields and gardens are being planted around the country to aid in bringing the numbers back up for the beautiful Monarch Butterfly. Let's hope we can save them from extinction by restoring their main food group.

THE SWALLOWTAILS

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Bernheim Arboretum, Clermont, Kentucky

Our next Butterfly is the Swallowtail and I'm betting everyone viewing this post has seen one in their lifetime. And if not, I'm so sorry. This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is partaking of the nectar at the Butterfly bushes in Bernheim Arboretum some five years ago. You can count on Swallowtails to frequent their favorite bushes, the Butterfly bush.

Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly, Bernheim Arboretum, Clermont, Kentucky

Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly, Bernheim Arboretum, Clermont, Kentucky

These Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterflies are cousins to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.. I captured these images first at the flower gardens at Bernheim Arboretum in Clermont, Kentucky and the second at Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood, Kentucky several years ago. The first image shows an Eastern Black Swallowtail stopping at a Button bush at Bernheim while the second shows the bright Dallas Red Lantana at Yew Dell Gardens. Butterflies are attracted to bright orange, yellow, purple and red flowers? It's true.

THE CLOUDEDS

Yellow Clouded Butterfly, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, Kentucky

Cabbage White Clouded Butterfly, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, Kentucky

The Clouded Butterfly family are a much smaller species of Butterfly. Notice the single spot on their wings. Also, did you notice the clouded edge of the Yellow Clouded. Clouded Butterflies love the Butterfly Bush, Milkweed, Coneflowers, Alfalfa, Dandelions, Clover and Tall Verbena. I suppose you could call them the 'not so particular Butterfly'. It's very difficult to get really good images of these little Butterflies. They don't stay still long.

Before I leave you today, I wanted you to know I will have a second post on Butterflies to share soon. Have a fantastic weekend all. We are getting the remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy this weekend here in the mid state of Tennessee. Back soon. ENJOY!

The Best of 2012

The year is quickly coming to a close. With a mere several weeks remaining in 2012 and, what with two major holidays at our back doors, I thought it fitting to take a quick look back at 2012 in photos. So many gorgeous flower images came to the forefront as I attempted to create a collage that I felt compelled to feature just flowers in the first Best Of collage and leave the nature and landscapes for another collage later. Featuring images taken from The Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee to Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky, to Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky, to Mustatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour, Indiana, I give you The Best of 2012. ENJOY!