I’m not normally into grasshoppers but these two caught my eye. First I saw this weird yellow hopper at Bald Knob NWR on Saturday and then this “camo” hopper at home while mowing. In both cases, all I had was my phone. Before you ask, the camo hopper hopped. That is how I saw him. Experts tell me the yellow hooper is a Bird Grasshopper Nymph and the camo is a Wrinkled Grasshopper.
I went dragon hunting this evening after the temperature dropped (to 98) at Cook’s Landing. The Sun was getting low which made for many shadows but the dragons were slowing down. Mostly. Below are the results plus a bonus Gulf Fritillary.
I’ve seen roadrunners a few times in my life but since I got back into birding five years ago, they’ve been a nemesis bird for me. I finally got a unsatisfactory glimpse of one last year breaking the spell. Last Sunday, I was visiting Dierks Lake in SW Arkansas looking for Cerulean Warbler when I drove past one on the side of the road. I slammed on the brakes (it was a very lightly traveled road) backed up, then quietly getting out the camera and out of the car. My bird was very cooperative, maybe he likes having his picture taken. Here is the best of the lot.
