On a very pleasant hike to 5,100-foot Fish Creek Mountain, I was entertained by small songbirds and butterflies.
On the open slopes the colorful wildflowers were clearly enjoying the warm sunshine, as was I. The butterflies were literally dancing in the breeze from flower to flower.
A pair of dark-eyed juncos had a nest on the summit of the mountain, a site of a long-removed fire lookout site.
There must have been some very hungry young ones in the nest. As I watched, the adults kept returning with tasty bugs to feed them. It appeared to be a never-ending chore.
The circle of life.
Edith Checkerspot Butterfly
Dark-eyed Junco with a snack for the kids
Edith Checkerspot Butterfly
Dark-eyed Junco leaping into flight
Great to find a nest, and watch the juncos busily feeding their nestlings. As always, terrific photos, John. I love the one with the junco’s mouth jammed full of bugs.
Thanks Jet. The juncos were working hard. I felt kinda sorry for them.
Lovely photos!
Thanks Hallie!
The checkerspots are new to me. But maybe I don’t get out enough as they are definitely listed in Alberta. 🙂
They are a pretty butterfly, and fairly common this time of the year in the higher mountain meadows.