monarchs on the mountain

A female monarch butterfly in our backyard recently.

And a Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly on our patio.

And if you live anywhere near Northeast Oklahoma come to Chandler Park in Tulsa for Monarchs on the Mountain. It’s a yearly event about everything butterflies and the environment in general. It is very educational, bring your kids and it is free! No admission fee, free parking, just free. Lots of organizations will have booths and there will be presentations. Check this link for more details including the lineup of speakers and some of the ancillary events associated with Monarchs on the Mountain. If you go, come by the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition booth and say hello. I’ll be there.

(1) Monarchs on the Mountain | Facebook

I am linking with Saturday’s Critters.

Saturday afternoon my wife and I were sitting on our back patio when we noticed this bird in one of our trees. It was quite a ways away and I was only able to get this photo of the back of his head. INaturalist gives a tentative ID as a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I had never heard of such a thing. Any help would be much appreciated.

Saturday was Monarchs on the Mountain on Turkey Mountain. A festival honoring butterflies and nature in general. I didn’t see any Monarchs but this giant caterpillar made an appearance. I was working a booth for the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition so I talked to a few people and I also planted a few new plants in our Monarch Waystation on the Mountain.

I’ve been watering the way station once or twice a week for months and have seen maybe two or three monarchs but a bunch of swallowtails. Those little buggers are shifty and hard to photograph. Lately the fritillaries have been all over the place. They like to hang out on a nearby tree.