Sandhill cranes

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, September 30, 2019.  There were about forty sandhill cranes in this field when I got there.  After a few minutes most of them flew off.   This is a view from the crane observation deck overlooking the Goose Pasture Viewing Area.

Link to sandhill cranes fall migration:

Link to sandhill cranes:

These two sandhill cranes were seen at Prophetstown State Park, October 5, 2019.  This near a prairie burned area.

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas) perched on a smartweed (Persicaria sp.).  Faint orange spots at the bottom of the hindwing.  Warren County, August 21, 2019.

According to Belth's Butterflies of Indiana, the Eastern Tailed-Blue is "The most frequently encountered blue butterfly in Indiana."

Link to Cupido comyntas:

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos).  Warren County, August 21, 2019.

According to Belth's Butterflies of Indiana, the Pearl Crescent is "abundant statewide in virtually any open habitat where asters grow."

Link to Phyciodes tharos:

Fowler's toad

Fowler's toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) at Kankakee Sands Nature Preserve, on the trail that goes up the sand hill next to the bison viewing parking lot.  Lots of these little toads were hopping around here.  Newton County.  Photo taken August 14, 2019.

Link to Fowler's toad:

Link to Fowler's toad:

Cottonweed

Cottonweed (Froelichia floridana) at Kankakee Sands Nature Preserve, Newton County.  This is on the sand hill next to the bison viewing parking lot.  Photo taken August 14, 2019.

Link to Froelichia floridana:

Link to Froelichia floridana:

Barn swallow nest

Barn swallow nest, under the eaves of the nature center building at Versailles State Park, Ripley County, August 8, 2019.

There were several more active nests at this building.  Barn swallows were seen flying around here, flying to and from these nests.

Link to Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica):

Link to Versailles State Park:

Wabash River, August 3, 2019.

A nice view of the Wabash from the pedestrian bridge at Lafayette, looking upstream.  Photo taken August 3, 2019.

Link to Wabash River levels:

Cedar waxwings were perched on tree branches on the right side of the river and flew out over the water hawking for insects, then returning to the branches.

Link to hawking in birds:

Link to video of cedar waxwings hawking:

A huge school of hundreds of carp were seen just looking down on the river from this vantage point.  Carp were big, each about 2 ft. long, floating close to the river surface.