Backyard Wildlife

I never know what I might see when I walk out my back door.

One day a juvenile horned owl stopped to search for a tasty morsel in the marsh.

Juvenile Horned Owl
Juvenile Horned Owl

Another day this diamond back terrapin took a wrong turn into our back yard.

Diamondback Terrapin
Diamondback Terrapin

The ruby throated hummingbirds come by for a drink every day.

Hummingbird on feeder
Hummingbird on feeder

It’s been a constant battle keeping the aphids off my milkweed but I have had an occasional Monarch stop by.

Monarch on Milkweed
Monarch on Milkweed

I spotted my first caterpillar of the summer on August 24!

Monarch Caterpillar August 2016
Monarch Caterpillar August 2016

All the butterflies love the Mexican Sunflowers I planted this year.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Gulf Fritillary on Mexican Sunflower
Gulf Fritillary on Mexican Sunflower

And the bees love it, too.

Bee on Mexican Sunflower
Bee on Mexican Sunflower