We headed back out from under the trees, but staying near the trees where we could see more open areas of the prairie. Jeanne took off into the field, hunting for the chorus frogs. No luck as when she approached the sounds, they stopped chirping she said.
A tiny little plant caught our eyes. It is the Bittercrest (Cardamine parviflora)!
Close up.
The Loggerhead Shrike was nearby. Not as exciting as the mouse we found on an earlier trip to the Ladonia Unit, but it was a meal for the shrike.
Sitting close to the dead beetle above, was this tiny critter! I think it might be in the Dance Flies (Empididae) family.
Beautiful yellow crustose lichen!
The sky was dark most all day. However the sun did peek out once or twice that day.
Several of last year’s grass nests of various sizes were found. You can tell it is last year’s by the leaves that have gotten caught inside the nest.
Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) berries!
A Potter Wasp nest!
As we walked along the fence, the junipers lined the fence. More bagworms with the juniper berries attached. I do not recall seeing berries as part of the bag before. It was most interesting.
Jeanne opened the Garden spider’s (Argiope) cocoon to look at the babies. More tomorrow!
Ive seen bagworms with berries but not as many as the one you found. Hope baby spiders are ok.
Yeah I hope the babies are ok too!