Large Milkweed Bug
Every year our prolific Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) serves as host for a robust population of Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus), and this year was no exception.
Adults
Healthy, developing young
As you may see the seeds are favoured as a principal dietary choice, and the young progress from one instar to the next
Aposematic colouration warns predators that these bugs are toxic and should be left alone. The same strategy, indeed the same colours, are employed by the Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
Painted Lady
We were very happy to welcome a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) to the front of the house. It was gracious enough to hang around for a few pictures.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Northern Cardinal is a species that has adapted well to urbanization and is a regular visitor to our yard.
Northern Cardinal ♂
Northern Cardinal ♀
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
A year-round resident, this always endearing little rodent is busy preparing for winter, and may be seen carrying food to its underground den.
It fills its cheek pouches and scurries off, returning mere minutes later to gather up another load of nutritious seeds.
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
This beautiful little sparrow has been an infrequent visitor this year, unlike in years past when it was a regular.
Parasitic Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) favour Chipping Sparrows as hosts, and it used to be a regular occurrence that tiny Chipping Sparrows were seen feeding gargantuan cowbird offspring in our yard.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
Bright, cheerful, bold, sassy and argumentative, American Goldfinch is a frequent and much appreciated visitor.
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
On 12 October, the first Dark-eyed Junco of the fall made an appearance in the backyard.
The weather is still unseasonably mild, but the appearance of juncos is confirmation that fall has arrived.
A backyard can be a wonderful thing!
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI love the butterflies, beautiful captures.
The cardinals are looking lovely too.
I have not seen many Chipping Sparrows this year, I am expecting a Junco to show up soon in my yard. Take care, have a great day!
Not a fan of bugs, but those butterflies are so gorgeous! Don't think I have ever seen an American Goldfinch over here...really lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhere is “over here”, Angie?
DeleteThe butterflies are beautiful and so nice of them to pose for your photos. We do not get chipmunks in the area I live in Pennsylvania but we have more than our fair share of squirrels. The American Goldfinch is a strikingly beautiful bird with its bright yellow color. Our weather has been erratic. It's a cold 36 degrees this early morning and will be back in the high 70's on the weekend!!!
ReplyDelete...thanks David, for this tour this morning.
ReplyDeleteThose Milkweed bugs look quite similar to our Gendarme beetle, (Pyrrhocoris Apterus) babies as well, but the adults look bigger but maybe it is the photo. Beautiful butterflies and who cannot love the chipmunk. It always surprises me that your goldfinches look so different to the European one. Bisous mon ami Diane
ReplyDeleteI first learned to love the dark-eyed juncos when we moved from southern California to southern Indiana in May 2005. I am not sure if I have seen one yet this year (2024) but we just had our first temperature drop down into the 30s last night so it should be soon.
ReplyDeleteLove that painted lady and yes I love the backyard visitors, the harbingers of winter. There are many around here.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
I've had too much wailing from friends about chipmunk damage to look at them other than a bit skeptically -- one had a house fire after a chip got into the house , chewed on dishwasher wiring, tiny charred corpse found!
ReplyDeleteI love that chipping sparrow's sound, but they're rare here now. Unlike cardinals which proliferate!
That's right, the backyard is a great photo spot. There are often many interesting things to photograph.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos of the sedum and the Painted Lady butterfly, David. How beautiful they are together! Yes, a backyard is a wonderful thing to have. The colors are so lovely. Acer is a must in every garden. A small or a big garden, you must always have an Acer or two :)
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
I agree, Marit! We planted our Acer Saccharum twenty years ago and it is now a beautiful mature tree. Hugs and kisses - David
DeleteDavid!
ReplyDeleteAs always, you can see some truly spectacular photos. I am enchanted by the squirrel, the butterflies and the wonderful goldfinches.
Hugs and greetings from autumn Poland.
Dear David, I enjoyed seeing your numerous garden guests - and I'm amazed at how colorful most of them are! Even the sparrow is wearing a red cap! Enjoy the mild days. It's been pretty cool here for weeks (although an apparently not very talented German meteorologist predicted another heatwave for Central Europe at the beginning of October. That must have happened somewhere else... But it's better for nature that it stayed cool anyway. And I'm not that keen on heat anyway.)
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Traude
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteStunneroonies!!! YAM xx
Our messy jungle/garden hosts and welcome a range of critters. For which I am very grateful. I loved seeing your residents - and your visitors too.
ReplyDeleteNow that's having good visitors...
ReplyDeleteThe quote at the top is magnificent.
Brilliant
Beautiful photos of the colourful birds. The American Goldfinch is stunning, it would be hard to miss the bright yellow bird.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, when I had my backyard cultivated, I also enjoyed visits from a wide variety of birds.
ReplyDeleteIt is a privilege to be able to photograph without leaving home. :-)
I appreciated all the photos published in this post, especially the ones of the birds.
Greetings,
JR
Gorgeous photographs. And I learned something. I have milkweed plants, common and butterfly weed. They have been covered by the milkweed bugs, colonies, like large aphids. I had no idea they were toxic as they monarch butterflies are. I suppose that is why the birds don't seem to eat them. I didn't have many monarch caterpillars this year, but did manage to bring six to eclose stage and shared them with my niece's kindergarten class.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for stopping by - greatly appreciated.
DeleteAnd you did better than us this year with the Monarchs. We only raised three indoors. We also raised four Black Swallowtails, and we have two Giant Swallowtails and two Polyphemus Moths in the garage where they have entered diapause and will remain until next spring. We started with 12 Polyphemus eggs but only two survived to pupate.
DeleteTotally love and agree with the quote :-D Great photos David :-D
ReplyDeleteGratitude for this exquisite photography from your own backyard.
ReplyDeleteAnother exemplary series of photos David. The information on the bugs was very interesting. Is that a male monarch? I read recently that the males have those little spots on their wings and females don't. If this is the case, all the photos I have taken are females.
ReplyDeleteGo to the top of the class, Denise. It is indeed a male as indicated by the spots on the hind wings.
DeleteI had a very good diversity of species in my garden this year. and my juncos are back this week too. I'm trying to remember if that's early or not. You have some more glorious photos in this post too. Hope your week is going well.
ReplyDeleteI could check my records, but it seems to me that early to mid October is about normal. They are wonderful little birds.
DeleteYears ago, we had a garden of diversity, David, but as apt dwellers I have to appreciate the gardens of others. Monarchs and Painted Ladies used to be frequent visitors to our flower beds in VA. I didn't know about the milkweed bugs being toxic.
ReplyDeleteIt’s possible to include a little diversity even on an apartment balcony, Beatrice. Some of my naturalist friends are getting to the age and physical state where they are selling their homes and moving into condos, and I am impressed by what they can achieve.
DeleteSome of my favorite birds I seldom see now. Lots of house sparrows, but no goldfinch, juncos, or even robins and cardinals.
ReplyDeleteI get such pleasure out of wandering my gardens and see who is out and about. Cannot wait for this knee to heal!
ReplyDeleteHi, David! it´s quite a sight to see the arrival of autumn with its unique palette of colours. They are everyday miracles, the sparrow is like an old friend who comes back to greet you. Your garden is full of visitors who brighten up the heart ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteHappy evening, dear friend!
Hello David,
ReplyDeletea colorful post, autumn is coming and the cold days are unstoppable, now that everything is changing color it is a pleasure to look at.
Greetings Fank
Love the last photo along with the Northern Cardial ones. All are good and so lovely to see nature at it's best.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful series of photos David.
ReplyDeleteThe large milk thistle bug is very special, I have never seen that before.
I also find the Northern Cardinal and the chipmunk beautiful.
I wish you a nice weekend.
Greetings Irma
Maravilloso ese cuarto trasero en donde se pueden ver pájaros y mariposas además de una hermosa vegetación otoñal.
ReplyDeleteLas fotos son bellísimas.
Muchos besos.
Yes ! It can be David !
ReplyDeleteAnd your pictures are wonderful too !
Have an interesting weekend !
Anna
Love those butterflies and especially the yellow goldfinch.
ReplyDeleteI never get the see the goldfinches in their bright yellow. their color is muted when they migrate through here. but we have plenty of cardinals. only seen a few butterflies so far, a sulfur, and a few long tails.
ReplyDeleteYour bug looks like our Boxelder Bugs ..I think the markings are narrower on Boxelders...same colors..I have seen quite a few Chipping Sparrows..I love their coloring...Thanks for including the cute Chippy..They always remind me of my Mollie (dog) who often had her nose up a downspout trying to catch one...I'm surprised that she never got her nose cut..Yes, my backyard is often entertaining...
ReplyDeleteKiitos pihanne vierailijoiden esittelystä David.
ReplyDeleteTeillä on ja on ollut hyvin leuto syksy, kuten Suomessakin. Taas tänään on tulossa aurinkoinen lämmin päivä. Pihamme kesäkukat kukoistavat edelleen.
Tiaiset alkavat etsiskellä tulevan talven ruokintapaikkoja, niitä lentelee ahkerasti pihapiirissä. Mustarastaspariskunta on näemmä jäämässä pitämään talvea tänne Pohjolaan. Viime talvenakin niitä oli kyllä kuusi koirasta ja yksi naaras.
Sirpa
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteYour post and beautiful nature photos are always a treat for the eyes.
I love the butterflies and all the birds. I saw my first of the season Junco a few days ago. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Great critter sightings! Love the photos of the milkweed bugs and the Painted Lady.
ReplyDeleteGardens are indeed a wonderful thing. I love that only one of these beautiful creatures can be found in mine, one of the butterflies, The Painted Lady, isn't amazing that such a small thing could be found living thousands of miles away.
ReplyDeleteG'day, David. I love seeing the birds and animals. I will never understand why people hunt and kill animals; nor will I ever agree with the practice.
ReplyDeleteTake care. :)
Hi David, “A backyard can be a wonderful thing!” … A perfect closing to an excellent post. I admire your ability to get so many neat shots of all sorts of subjects. I almost said “critters” but that last photo of the colorful leaves would not allow it. I’ve been traveling and had social media on the back burner so I need to go take a look at a few of your previous posts and it will be, I’m sure, a pleasure. Happy weekend and week ahead to you and yours and thank you for sharing. John
ReplyDeleteEse patio trasero es maravilloso, me encanta. Abrazos.
ReplyDelete"A backyard can be a wonderful thing!"
ReplyDeleteSo true!
Many thanks for sharing some of your lovely backyard visitors.
All the best Jan