Summer is Still Going Strong with Medium Migratory Movement

                                                            Adult Green Heron(Parent)

                                                         Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 2

                                                                  Great Blue Heron

                                                                           Ditto

                                                        Green Heron Chick, Clutch 2

                                                                       Ditto, Gaping

                                                          Green Heron Chick, Clutch 2

                                                                    Mississippi Kite

                                                           Green Heron Chick, Clutch 2

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                          Ditto

                                                          Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 2
                                                                    "Partners in Crime"

                                                         Green Heron Chick, Clutch 2

                                           

                                                                      Dragonfly

                                                                    Molting Great Egret

                                                                        Viceroy

                                                                     Gulf Fritillary


Photos of the young Green Herons were over the past several days.  They are growing quickly,
as they need to do in order to get ready for migration.  Finally, we're getting a few butterflies
in the area, but each year they seem to be lessening, most likely due to prevalent use of pesticides
in Meico, where they overwinter.  Native milkweed plants are also invasive, so farmers are eradicating food for the young butterflies and caterpillars by removing them.

Migratory movement is about medium strength, still plenty of assorted flycatchers in the area, as well as Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and Yellow Warblers.  Fall birds are moving in, with good populations of
assorted woodpeckers and still numerous Eastern Phoebes.

Eastern Kingbirds, Common and Great-tailed Grackles are roosting, so they will be on the move
soon enough.  Then the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers will be right behind them.  If you notice, a few
of them have been spending their days at the lake.

Share staples with those at your feeders, and you'll be rewarded with migratory stopovers.  Songbirds
enjoy bathing in, as well as the sound of running water.  Please provide black oil sunflower seeds and suet for those birds on the move, as they are high calorie nutrients.