Prickly Pear Cactus
Today was a perfect day to visit Spring Green Preserve and a great way to finish June. Otherwise known as the Wisconsin Desert, the preserve is a sand prairie and I've written about it here many times before. It seems like every time I visit this unique state natural area I find something I've never seen before. But there are also specific things I count on seeing depending on the time of year. Today I found a Punctured Tiger Beetle, which is the sixth tiger beetle species I've observed at the preserve.
The most exciting find was a Fame Flower, but it wasn't in bloom. Another interesting insect was a Feather-legged Fly, another first for me. I wish I could have gotten a better angle on it so you could see the feathery structure on its back legs, but it didn't stick around for long.
Giant Robber Flies were scouring the sandy trails looking for small insects to eat. Tiger Beetles are pretty tough to photograph, but robber flies are even more difficult; your approach has to be slow with no sudden movements. But watch your step! There are Dung Beetles rolling ... dung!
The usual variety of grassland birds were present, including Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, and more. In the wooded area on the east side of the property there was a Blue-winged Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Wood Thrush, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
It was a beautiful day with great sights and sounds!
Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly Pear Cactus
Goat's Rue
Lead Plant
Clay-colored Leaf Beetle
Clay-colored Leaf Beetle
Feather-legged Fly
Lark Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Punctured Tiger Beetle
Dung Beetles
Hoary Vervain
All images © 2013 Mike McDowell