outdoor photography

Northern Parula I drove out to Marl Bed Flats this morning hoping to find shorebirds.  I found none--not even a Killdeer.  I did have a pretty good time though.  I saw a juvenile Purple Gallinule, Coopers Hawk and a Belted Kingfisher. There were also many of the normal blackbirds, grackles and wading birds. Boat-tailed Grackle Green Heron More of these hibiscus-like flowers are blooming here, and they look to me to be Saltmarsh Mallow, though I wasn't in a salt marsh. I wish I'd brought my diffuser for this photo. Saltmarsh Mallow? Dragonflies where also there in abundance. I photographed a beautiful male Four-spotted Pennant. Four-spotted Pennant As I was leaving, I found a butterfly I've never seen before. That didn't surprise me, since I'm pretty much a novice at identifying insects. I took a few photos with my point and shoot camera and then searched my Audubon Butterfly Guide and could not find this butterfly. The best I could find...

Saltmarsh Mallow Yesterday I drove out to Marl Bed Flats, though my time there was cut short by the fact that I slipped into mud deep enough to get muddy water into my boots.  I was hoping to confirm breeding of Least Bitterns, but I never made it to where they are.  These hibiscus-like flowers were blooming; they look to me like Saltmarsh Mallow, even though I wasn't in a salt marsh.  I can't find a better match, though, and I've read that these flowers sometimes grow inland. There were many dragonflies there, and I photographed a Four-spotted Pennant and a Regal Darner.  Unfortunately the darner wouldn't perch where I could get a good photograph. Four-spotted Pennant Regal Darner On the way out, I came across this Muscovy Duck perched on the utility wires.  This one is nearly all black, except for a little bit of white visible on the wing. We don't get wild Muscovy Ducks here, but this one looks similar to photos of those you can find in the wil...