July 19, 2020 - Urban Nature Photos

Because of the coronavirus, we have been mostly staying at our lake home this summer. When we do get back to our apartment in the Twin Cities, I like to take some nature photos of city critters. Here’s a Monarch butterfly that cooperatively posed in front of a group of bright yellow flowers.

ButterflyMonarchWaverlyGardensNorthOaksRamseyCounty20200711

If you only count the black wing spots you will agree this is an aptly named Twelve-spotted Skimmer. The white spots between the black ones indicate this is a male. It’s a large insect, about 2 inches long. The abdomen of this particular one has turned mostly white. That indicates this is an older insect. When males first emerge, the abdomen is brown with yellow stripes down the sides, but it gradually turns white as the insect ages.

DragonflySkimmerTwelvespottedWaverlyGardensNorthOaksRamseyCounty20200711

This cute little baby Eastern Cottontail rabbit was right outside our patio door. It was eating seeds off the grass stems.

RabbitEasternCottentailbabyWaverlyGardensNorthOaks20200621

Here’s the adult Eastern Cottontail that accompanied the baby rabbit in the previous photo.

RabbitEasternCottentailWaverlyGardensNorthOaks20200611

It’s no surprise to find an American Robin in an urban area. This one was hopping around in the grass looking for insects or worms.

RobinAmericanWaverlyGardensNorthOaksRamseyCounty20200711

This is a juvenile American Robin. We are used to seeing robins with red breasts, but the juveniles have spotted breasts. You can see the red feathers starting to appear around the edges. By October, most of the spotted feathers will be replaced by red feathers.

RobinAmericanjuvenileWaverlyGardensNorthOaks20200623

The clear throat, black line through the eye, and rusty cap identify this bird as a chipping Sparrow.

SparrowChippingWaverlyGardensNorthOaksRamseyCounty20200711

We have Spiderwort growing in our wildflower garden at our lake home, but I was surprised to find one growing in a flower bed right outside the front entrance to our apartment building.

SpiderwortWaverlyGardensNorthOaksRamseyCounty20200711