A Year on Clear Lake-Sept 24, 2013

Green With Envy–September 24, 2013

The bright green gal above is an Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly. The female of the species is lime green, but the adult male has a blue abdomen, a green face, and green and blue thorax. Colorful, to say the least.

Not more than a few steps away  from the dragonfly was this butterfly. It’s actually a bright orange butterfly when its wings are open, but its underwings are the buff, with large silvery spots seen here. It gets its name, Gulf Fritillary, from its migration over the Gulf of Mexico. The larva feeds exclusively on passionflower vine, and the mature butterfly sips nectar from the lantana, among other such plants. So it is right at home on the peninsula.

Sea blight is another salt marsh vegetation. It is growing quite thick and is now tinged with a reddish brown, autumn-like color. Wandering around  the outskirts of a large patch of sea blight was a juvenile yellow-crowned heron.

Another beauty is the setting sun, which has filled the sky with golden light, igniting the western sky and anything in its path, such as this juvenile Snowy Egret.  A fitting end to an active day.

Green Thought:“Here we are, the most clever species ever to have lived. So how is it we can destroy the only planet we have?” ― Jane Goodall