From a distance...the Red Admiral

This little beauty was about 8ft away...this first one is not cropped...

this one is cropped.  When I worked at the orchard, the Red Admiral would land on my arm at least a few times during the picking season. 

Days like this and a ?

We have had more days like this this summer than I think we have ever had in one summer.    We try to get out and enjoy them all we can.

Down at the end of this pond lotus are growing...the property has No Trespassing signs so I cannot walk down close to them.

How I wish I could cause they are only about 8-10 minutes from here.  They are not far at all...

This Great Blue Heron was down close to the far end.  We see him in about this exact spot quite often.
************

At a different pond, I spotted this guy.  When I first spotted it, it was out in the water, with its wings spread open.  Before I could even zoom in and focus, it took flight.   The only thing that crossed my mind was cormorant, but don't really have any idea if it could be one.  I am hoping someone that sees them often can tell me if they think that is one or if you know what it is, please say so.  My photo is so blurry that I can do nothing to enhance it to give details.  Even in the original, I cannot tell much about its beak.

We have seen cormorants down at the Goose Pond area...and in looking at photos on Google, I found a photo of one sitting in the water that closely resembles what I saw.  I just wish I could see the beak in my photo.

Butterfly picture show...

The other day I spotted this little buy on the thistle while driving through the strip pits.

I could not believe my luck,

there was no wind to speak of and it seemed willing to stay there.

None of these were cropped images...

This was the best time I ever had photographing this kind of butterfly...which I think is a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but if you know it is a different species please tell in the comments.

As always, click to expand the view!