dragonfly - Widow Skimmer

The widow skimmer Libellula luctuosa), part of the group 'king skimmer' dragonflies. It has large bulky body (compared to other species odonata) with large heads.  This is a juvenile, with yellow with brown stripes.; when adult it will have a steely blue body.  Wings are transparent, but marked with prominent black basal bands.  Widow Skimmers are found commonly in muddy substrates, or still bodies of waters such as ponds. They prey on other smaller insects like mosquitoes. 

two killdeers

I've seen two Killdeer around the pond since early June.  I wonder if they're are pair or siblings?  

If they are a pair, wonder where the nest is?  

The pond and it's environs are full of questions that I ask myself every day!

milkweed

 

ducklings napping

 

killdeer

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus is a shorebird that is part of the plover family. About the size of a American Robin, it has very long legs and striped black and white neck.  It usually inhabits grassy areas but eats mostly invertebrates. This one was foraging along the shore for aquatic insect larvae.  The scientific name "vociferus" is from Latin; 'vox' meaning "voice" with 'ferre' meaning "to carry". Their call is surely carrying!  https://musicofnature.com/mary-holland/killdeer/ 

floating log

 We tied a weight to a driftwood log, and put it offshore for the turtles to sun themselves.  There are several logs partly on the shore but this one turns with the breeze and flow of water.

Sure enough, one turtle made its way to the log within 60 minutes.

Later, the Hooded Merganser hen stood on it to survey the surroundings from a new angle.

prairie smoke gone to seed

 

We added Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum to the riparian area around the pond last year. They survived the winter, and bloomed mid-May. 

Now each flower has transformed into clusters of feathery, wispy plumes that eventually will spread seeds as they wave in the breeze.

blue flag

 

Northern Blue Flag Iris versicolor has a deep blue to purple flower.  It is also called Harlequin Blueflag.

It grows on lake shores, swamps, pond edges, and wet meadows.

Blue Flag irises occur throughout the USA, in several varieties.  Some plants are located on the south shore of the pond, and are blooming now.