Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Goats Beard

I caught the goat's beard open this morning at the Arden Hills Army Training Site Wildlife Observation Area.  The butterfly weed and black-eyed susans are about to bloom.  I also saw 5 common loons, a flycatcher of some sort, one female eastern bluebird, 6+ tree swallows (think most were recent fledglings), one northern flicker, a wood duck, a trumpeter swan and heard a gray catbird yapping away. 

This Morning at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Wildflowers

Monarda-1489.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Lots of flowers blooming at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area today. The photo on the right is a monarda, also known as bee balm.

Below is butter-and-eggs, also known as Linaria vulgaris and toad flax.

Previously at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Flowers

Milkweed-47113.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Many of the flowers at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area are in bloom now. The photo on the right is milkweed.

Below, is black-eyed susan and hoary alyssum. There is also butterfly weed, goatsbeard and some invasives blooming there.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Flower

Flower_5220_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Not many of these false sunflowers remain at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. There is tons of big blue stem and indian grass along with some tiny white flowers.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Ambush Bugs Doing It

Ambush Bugs Doing It_0778.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I left the big glass at home tonight when I visited the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. Saw these jagged ambush bugs doing it on a black-eyed susan. Shot it hand held with my new Nikkor 24-85G VR and the on-camera flash.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Flowers

Butter and Eggs_9743.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Lots of flower variety at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area Today.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Butterfly Weed in Monochrome

Butterfly Weed_9867_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

These beautiful orange flowers at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area are called Butterfly Weed. They grow in bunches all over the area. I decided to mess with Silver Efex Pro 2 tonight for a monochrome perspective. What do you think?

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Butterfly Weed

Bridge and Clouds_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

The orange flowers you see in this shot are called Butterfly Weed. They are in full bloom at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area today. If you like bright orange flowers, stop by soon.

I made this particular shot and processed as an HDR from three exposures two stops apart, handheld. The sky and clouds were too bright when I exposed for the grass and flowers. HDR worked perfectly for this situation.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw the First Lupine

Dew on Lupine_0417_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I was up early to catch the morning light at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. Along with the morning light, there was dew all over everything.

Here is are some shots of the first lupine of the season.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw No Moon

Thats No Moon-0188.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

That's right this isn't a moon...it's not space station either. It's one of last year's monarda (bee balm) plants. These are really cool when they are bloom.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Susans in the Sun

Susans in the Sun_DSC_5959.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

The TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area is filled with wildflowers. There is a great variety so something is blooming nearly all summer. I made this photograph on July 10, 2010 when the entire area was covered in flowers. I pays to visit the same place frequently.

I often say that I see something new everyday at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area.

Here is some Butterfly Weed. There are quite a few large clumps of this flower scattered around this small area. This shot was made on June 23, 2010.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Flower Deformity

Flower Deformity DSC_1447, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It's raining and snowing at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area today so I thought I'd add some flowery cheer by posting this shot of a couple conjoined twin black-eyed susans.

My Top Favorites of 2011

I don't exclusively take photos at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area although I click more there than anywhere else.  Some of my clicks at the WVA made my top favorite list for 2011 (scroll to the bottom for a link to the whole slideshow).

Frosty Barbed-wire

Tree Swallows (they didn't nest here)

The biggest fish I've seen in Osprey claws

Watched this caterpillar for weeks...missed the butterfly

Watched this snake wriggle in and out of this hole.

Two egrets flying by the harvest Moon

Finally caught a deer jumping over the fence.

I made a big print of this, wow!

Here is the complete slideshow with 30 various photos. Click on the four arrows in the lower right for a full screen show.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Flowers...lots of flowers

Flowers DSC_5808, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

The black-eyed susans are long gone at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. Here is a shot of what you missed about 2 months ago.

My Photobook of the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area is Now Available

My New Photobook: Today at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area is now available. Only $67.95. 37 fine art images on high quality photo paper. Twenty six 8" x 12" pages bound professionally with full color images.

View a preview below.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail DSC_7605, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Still haven't made it out to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. Sorry for all the "Previously..." posts lately. I had a family event tonight.

Here is a shot of an eastern tiger swallowtail on a monarda flower. I haven't see any of these butterflies around the viewing area this year but hope to soon. I've spotted a couple monarch and sulfurs already.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Conjoined Susans

Conjoined Susans DSC_4811
by Mully410 * Images

I saw this/these flower(s) the other day at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area so I decided to keep an eye on them.  It looks like two distinct black-eyed susan heads growing together.  Weird.

First time seeing these little yellow flowers.  No idea what they are called but they are about the size of a nickle.



And the blackbirds chasing a crow:

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Swan and a Cygnet

Swan and Cygnet DSC_4367, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is a crappy super cropped shot of one of the swans with the only cygnet they have left this summer. Just a few days ago, I saw four cygnets with the adults.

I also got some descent photos of: bluebird, goldfinch, goldfinch and goldfinch and a flower and a few piliated woodpecker shots here and here.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Yellow Goats Beard

Yellow Goats Beard DSC_4147, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

The other day I learned that this flower was called Yellow Goats Beard. Today, I found one going to seed at the Wildlife Viewing Area. It looks a lot like a dandelion but it's about 3 inches in diameter.

Remember my earlier post about the four trumpeter swan cygnets? Well, I saw the two adults tonight and there was only one cygnet. Last year, they all disappeared. I wonder what's getting them...coyote, raptor, river otters...who knows?

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Brave Blackbird Chasing Osprey

Blackbird Chasing Osprey DSC_9661, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

The red-winged blackbirds of the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area sure seem to hate the osprey...or any raptor for that matter lately. This brave (or annoying, I guess) little blackbird chased the osprey clear across the entire lake.


Osprey Annoyed DSC_9670
by Mully410 * Images

I also saw my first beetle of the season at the WVA:

 

Beetle and Flower DSC_9851
by Mully410 * Images

I also saw the bluebirds, tree swallows, geese, one of the trumpeter swans and two of the otters.