Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit 2019-10-12

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

We saw this Common Green Darner floating in the creek. When it drifted close enough Steven and Helen rescued it. We left it in a sunny spot and it quietly vibrated its wings now and then for about 30-40 minutes. Then it took off. Look at those colors!

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

Luck was with us as our Big Sit day turned out to be a day of raptor migration! In the overcast sky many of the migrating birds appeared as simple silhouettes.

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

At any time during the day you could usually spot at least one Monarch butterfly up in the sky migrating south. When the sun came out I tried to photograph a few.

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

Monarch Butterflies were flying south with the raptors, but this one was feeding on the Maximilian Sunflowers next to our circle.

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

Luck was with us as our Big Sit day turned out to be a day of raptor migration! In the overcast sky many of the migrating birds appeared as simple silhouettes.

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

Luck was with us as our Big Sit day turned out to be a day of raptor migration! In the overcast sky many of the migrating birds appeared as simple silhouettes.

An exciting surprise was a single Peregrine Falcon, only the second one I've ever seen on the trail.

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

Near the end of the day this juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk perched on a nearby broken branch hanging in vines. Upon close inspection of our photos, we saw that there is something wrong with its left eye.

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

Luck was with us as our Big Sit day turned out to be a day of raptor migration! In the overcast sky many of the migrating birds appeared as simple silhouettes.

Taken during to 2019 Birding on Broadmeade Big Sit on Lake Creek Trail.

This male Variegated Meadowhawk dragonfly seemed to know that it matched the rope we used to mark our circle, and perched on it in the early afternoon.