Great Meadows in early August

Great Meadows NWR

Stopped by Great Meadows on my way home today. 

Great Meadows NWR

Lotus in bloom. Peeps in the mudflats (unpictured).

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged blackbirds in the lotuses.

Great Blue Heron

Great blue herons, young and old. 

12-spotted Skimmer

And flying insects galore. Dragonflies and Butterflies.

Viceroy

Plus the following weirdness below. I thought grasshopper flight was strictly utilitarian. I didn't know it had display value as well.  In the video below, watch the fluttering grasshopper (if you listen closely you can even hear it fluttering like a little helicopter). Then watch two grasshoppers in engage in some sort of aggressive leg lifting dialogue.