It’s been a long time since I’ve added an update. I’m still in Pierre, SD. If all goes well, I will be able to get on the road by the end of the month. For now, I’m limited to the Pierre area. There are some interesting things to be found around here, but nothing really new or very exciting.
OK, well this is kind of exciting. Ricky Olson has had this hummingbird in his yard for almost three weeks now. It has been identified as an adult female Broad-tailed Hummingbird. We think it may have a nest in his yard which would be very unusual for this species, which normally nests further west in more mountainous habitat. Maybe there will be some young ones showing up soon. It is nectaring on Catnip. A Burrowing Owl on the Fort Pierre National Grassland. I haven’t seen any young owls yet, but they should be coming soon. Speaking of young owls, here is a young Barn Owl in a nest burrow. I saw an adult in another burrow nearby. A Least Tern near the Oahe Dam. There were two of them, engaging in behavior that indicates they wanted to nest nearby. Butterflies have been very scarce, but this morning I had to the opportunity to photograph this Monarch in nice light. This one is a male, as indicated by the black spot on each hind wing. These are actually glands that produce pheromones.Here’s the same butterfly hanging from the milkweed with its wings folded.A female Widow Skimmer dragonfly. There are a lot of these around right now. They should be feeding well on the abundant mosquitoes.
