July 19

Tuesday, reunited with Remi, I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area for our weekly wildlife walk. The early evening weather was sunny with a temperature of 82 degrees and a cooling breeze out of the west. We left the car and headed west down Energy Hill to Mallard Marsh where I spotted a Monarch butterfly fluttering among a large patch of aromatic, blossoming Milkweeds. Also, when probing the leaves of these plants for Monarch caterpillars, I noticed many were beginning to produce their seedpods. Since they are quite tender and tasty when small, I picked and ate one. While enjoying my snack, I glanced over to see the lovely blossoms of Blue Vervain. Continuing west, I caught a glimpse of a pair of young Cowbirds, both male and female, perched far out in Bobolink Meadow that was unusually choked with White Sweet Clover. Passing through the cooling shade of North Woods, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a rarely seen, Red Fox running south into the open. Exiting the woods, I circled Succession Field where I noticed several blossoms of Queen Anne’s Lace including this one being visited by the ubiquitous Japanese Beetle. Also, I noticed the field contained an unusually large number Goldenrod plants infected by galls including some with both a ball and a bunch gall on the same stem. Passing through South Woods, I spotted a pin cushion-like flower of Button Bush along the edge of Swanson Swamp and a colorful American Copper Butterfly resting on an oak tree trunk nearby. Exiting the woods, I moved quickly around Sora Swale, turned east and hiked past Frog Fen and Brady Cemetery into Native Grassland where the prairie flowers were in full bloom including the fragrant Bergamot and Mountain Mint. After pausing at Grebe Pond, I continued north where I spotted three more Lepidopterans: a fast moving Swallowtail butterfly, a perching Monarch-mimic Viceroy butterfly and a resting White Wave moth. Finally, we passed the barn, found the car and headed for home.

Fluttering and flying

O’er field and meadow

Monarchs of orange

Swallowtails of yellow

Seeking sweet nectar

Invited by flowers

Banking on the breeze

In the sunshine hours

Spreading your wings

Displaying your color

Butterflies of summer

You’re like no other

D. DeGraaf