We're into August now with insects darting, buzzing, nectaring and laying eggs throughout the garden and woodland. A dark Eastern Tiger Swallowtail found Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) to sip on. A similar looking Spicebush Swallowtail rested on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) after laying eggs, the zig-zag edges of the leaves in visual harmony with its wings, providing perfect camouflage.

8-2-19 E. Tiger Swallowtail female 8-4-19 Spicebush Swallowtail female resting on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

A female Monarch also was busy egg-laying on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) while an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail nectared nearby. 

8-4-19 Monarch female laying eggs on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 8-4-19 Monarch female laying eggs on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 8-5-19 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

The Indian Pinks (Spigelia marilandica) had a few blooms left for this juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird to find. Another young bird went for the Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis), but both have tubular red flowers perfectly suited to their bills.

7-30-19 Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) 8-4-19 Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Squirrels had eaten the easy-to-reach white berries on the Rough-leaf Dogwoods (Cornus drummondii), so the American Robins have been literally going out on a limb to get the remaining few.

American Robin going for berries of Rough-leaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii)

We've been heading out to the gazebo with our coffee first thing in the morning to enjoy the cooler, quiet period as the birds awaken. The Barred Owls have been out there several mornings. Of course, they had been active all night and were looking for a safe place to rest for the day. They often choose a branch with another above to give them some cover.

8-5-19 Barred Owl 8-5-19 Barred Owl

By afternoon, the male had been harassed by squirrels and was moving around. It landed in a Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) but a squirrel bothered it again. Eventually, it flew to the bubbler pond, looking for fish. In the following video, one can see the bird flash its wings, daring that squirrel to come closer. 

8-5-19 Barred Owl 8-5-19 Barred Owl

The next morning, the larger female was in the maple by the pond. It had been raining and the bird looked pretty bedraggled. Though we hear them often, we were glad to have seen them both, it had been quite some time since we were granted daytime views of these birds. 

8-6-19 Barred Owl

Saturday, I was out in the garden for a while and found some Monarch caterpillars on the Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). These 'cats' will become butterflies in a couple weeks. There's plenty of native milkweed for them to feed on before they go into metamorphosis.

8-10-19 Monarch caterpillar on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 8-10-19 Monarch caterpillar on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

A Silver-spotted Skipper landed near me in the shade. The sun peeked through just enough to highlight the orange cone of the flower, a lovely moment to capture.

8-10-19 Silver-spotted Skipper on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Across the garden in another patch of milkweed, a female Monarch was busy again laying eggs, while a fresh looking male nectared on the flowers. The female made its way over to the west patch to sip for a while, joined by other pollinators.

8-10-19 Monarch female laying egg on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 8-10-19 Monarch male on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 8-10-19 Monarch and friends at Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

A Tiger Swallowtail came in to visit the Sweet Coneflowers (Rudbeckia submentosum), then it was time to come in and cool off. The garden is full of activity during the sunny afternoon hours.

8-10-19 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia submentosum)

Migrant birds are starting to move around.

Two of my friends have seen warblers at their water features, so be watching!