I missed out on the annual Wildflower Walk at Konza Prairie this year due to other commitments. It's always a very enjoyable time out on the beautiful prairie observing all the flowers in bloom. I usually get to see the sun set as well before I head for home. This is an image from the event a couple years ago of the evenings sunset over some Butterfly Milkweed. There was rain off in the distance which made for an interesting sky I thought.
When I am out on Konza Praiire I am usually treated to views of these birds. I see them around my area ever now and then as well. This is a Nighthawk that was hovering above me several times while I was out on the Prairie in early June. They make an interesting noise when they dive for food which is usually your first clue that they are around.
While out on Konza Prairie, I saw my favorite grass. I was not able to photograph it at the time due to leading a walk but I went out after and was able to find a bit and get a couple photos. This is June Grass which is appropriately named because it blooms in June. It is a very photogenic grass I think when photographed back lit by the sun.
While I was out on Konza Prairie walking to see the sunset, I was treated to the sight of a Nighthawk bird feeding quite close and then hovering right above me. They are very cool birds, I think. They hover looking for something to eat and then they dive and make this interesting noise (created by the air rushing over it's wings) as they go down to catch whatever they have found. It's quite fun to watch. They are usually out hunting at dawn or dusk. It is neither nocturnal nor a hawk so the name is a misnomer. They make no nest but they and their young are easily camouflaged on the ground by their color. They have one of the longest migration routes of all North American birds and can be frequently found out of range.
Last weekend was the annual Wildflower Walk out at Konza Prairie. It was a lovely evening and they had a huge turnout. I led a group of about 20 fun people. After we got back I went back out a short way to watch the sun set over the prairie and I took this image. That's an Echinacea in the foreground and behind is a lovely example of a Butterfly Milkweed.
I am looking forward to summer. Today's image is of one of my favorite grasses from summer that I find out on Konza Prairie while hiking. This is June Grass which gets its name because it blooms in June. I love to capture it backlit as I find it very photogenic in the way it captures the light.
Today's image is of a Dickcissel bird that I captured out on Konza Prairie in June. They are signs of spring in my area when they return and I have not seen any for a while now so guessing they have moved on for the winter. They get there name from the call they make.
Todays image is one that I captured out on Konza Prairie. This is a Dickcissel that I captured in flight as it just took off from it's perch on a plant. I liked that it was actually looking at me and I got it pretty well focused. I wish it had been closer but I still liked the image as it shows it's habitat as well.
Today's image is another of the beautiful sunset that I saw while I was out at Konza Prairie a couple of weekends ago. We had some rain recently but it held off that day fortunately. The clouds made for a lovely sunset though. I had just returned from leading a fun wildflower walk with a group of people.
I was out on Konza Prairie a couple weekends ago and I was able to see my favorite grass. This is June grass which I find very photogenic, especially when the sun is low and backlights the tufted flowering heads of it. It actually blooms May through July but I have always been able to capture it during it's namesake month.
Last Sunday I was out on Koza Prairie for the annual Wildflower Walk. There was a really great turnout and it was a fun time. After the walk I was taking a few sunset pics over the prairie and in the image you can see some Butterfly Milkweed (orange) and a Cobea Penstemon (lower right corner) in bloom. It was a perfect evening, not too hot and not all windy and a lovely sky for the sunset.
We are supposed to have snow today, we shall see if it happens as I get these ready to post early. I am dreaming of summer these days. This is my favorite grass as I find it very photogenic especially when backlit by the sun. This is June Grass that I photographed last June out on Konza Prairie.
I captured today's image while out on Konza Prairie. I had heard of this before but had never seen it in person until that evening. This was a huge swarm of Honeybees in the crook of a tree. I heard they do this when they leave one hive and are in the process of finding another place to make one. This was on a Friday evening and when I went by on Sunday there was absolutely no evidence they had ever been there.
I was recently out on Konza Prairie a couple of times due to their annual Wildflower Walk. On Sunday the clouds were rolling in but the rain held off and we all had a great walk.
This is my favorite grass. It photographs really well, especially when backlit. This is called June Grass and I shot it last June out on Konza Prairie during a wildflower walk refresher. Their annual Wildflower Walk is coming up on June 5 and is well worth it. Beautiful views and lots of wildflowers to see.
While out on Konza Prairie this past weekend, I was able to see and photograph my favorite grass. I don't know many by name, I am much better with flowers, but this one I know. This is June Grass blooming in June. 😃 I especially love it when it is backlit by the sun such as in this photo. The way the edges are highlighted is really beautiful to me.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog once again! This past weekend gave me acouple of opportunities to see and photograph wildflowers in bloom with 2 walks out on Konza Prairie. It's been an odd blooming year with all the rain and cooler start we got. Some flowers are blooming early and others are late. I captured this Cat's Claw Sensitive Briar in some light that mabe the bloom look like a firework I thought. It get's it's name because if you touch the leaves it will close up and also because it has small thorns on it's stems. You can see them on the flower stem in the photo.
It's Wildflower Wednesday! We have had quite the cold snap and today was supposed to be a warmer one, a balmy 20 degrees. I am writing this on Sunday so we shall see. Anyway, I needed a warm photo and this older image of some Nipple Cactus flowers did the trick. These are found out on Konza Prairie. I have only timed it right twice. Hope to see them flower again sometime. The flowers are fairly small, the cactus are only about 2 inches diameter at most.
