At Empire Ranch, Kathie and I found a gate. A rusty brown gate. It called our names. And we entered searching for birds.
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| Fire Ants |
While doing so, we faced massive amounts of insects on the trail. If you're not careful where you step, you may find yourself badly damaged after thousands of fire ant bites. So we avoided these patches while exploring the area.
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| Leopard Frog Protection House |
In fact, this trail was really all about the insects. The deafening sounds of the Cicada actually hurt our ears and blocked out any bird sounds. But holy cow were the butterflies active in this field of wildflowers!
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| Common Checkered Skipper |
I never tire of the Queen butterfly below and I apologize for constantly taking pics of them. But I've added a butterfly "lifer" and new addition to Las Aventuras above. This summer I captured the Checkered White Butterfly on camera. Now we can also see the Common Checkered Skipper!
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| Queen Butterfly |
So this monster Cicada flew into view. All I can tell you is that these insects were sooooo LOUD!!!
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| Cicada |
And as for the birds? Well we saw the Say's Phoebe. But Kathie knew a better spot to find birds and would we find some incredible things! Stay tuned more from our adventures in the grasslands near Sonoita.
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| Say's Phoebe |
Posts
That's pretty loud when the insects block out bird sounds. Yet I'd think there would be more birds with all those bugs. But then there's nothing wrong with pretty butterflies. I'm loving that gate.
ReplyDeleteSounds like another great outing, except for the insects. The common checkered skipper is pretty, congrats on your sighting. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have been able to resist that gate either :) Lovely butterflies - never get tired of photos of them. Looking forward to more adventures :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE that gate! I'll never tire of your beautiful butterflies. Glad you avoided the fire ants!
ReplyDeletei love the cicadas...but they sure can be loud! very cool old rusty gate...and butterflies.
ReplyDeletefire ants...ouch! i even have to watch where i step here at home!
can't wait to see more...at this other special place!
You are very fortunate. To be able to go places with such variety of flora and fauna. Over here it is rather an annoying adventure to walk or to drive to find noise, crowds and ugly, poorly kept public places with little or no fauna of interest. Until next.
ReplyDeleteI can understand taking lots of photos of the Queen Butterfly it is a beauty, sounds and looks like a great place.
ReplyDeleteStepping on the home of some fire ants is definitely not something I would want to do (maybe the red gate was entrance to their territory!) Your photo of the cicada looks (and sounds) like a chainsaw in the tree :)
ReplyDeleteThe butterflies are beautiful Chris.
ReplyDeleteBonitas imágenes amigo Chris.. :-)))
ReplyDeletei love a good gate! and rusty to boot! :)
ReplyDeleteNie muszą być zawsze ptaszki, mogą być i piękne motyle i cykady. Mrówki pewno omijałeś z daleka. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteThey need not always be birds, they can be and beautiful butterflies and cicadas. Ants certainly omijałeś from afar. Yours.
Pretty things that make horrid noises, lol. I can't wait for your next blog Chris.
ReplyDeletesuch photos
ReplyDeleteand the text...funny and informative
I am so glad you didn't get those fire ants stirred up after you...haven't you just gotten ove chigger bites!
I love bugs too....wish I tagged along with you guys
...soon you will be writing a nature book
Sounds like a wonderful walk to find birds and insects. I have not started a butterfly life list but I bet you see way more butterflies where you are than where I am. :)
ReplyDeleteSo fire ants are the ones that bite? Wow, be careful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gate.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Looks like a great place to take a walk. Love that gate.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful butterflies..Havent seen those before. Hope to Bird with you and Kathie when we are there this winter.
ReplyDeleteDawn, me too! What fun we would have!
DeleteOh, I can almost hear them. That must have been so cool.Love the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting, I stay tuned, don't worry :-)
ReplyDeleteChris, it was a fun day. You are better at photographing insects and paying attention to them than I am. I know we have many more adventures ahead of us!
ReplyDelete