A beautiful foggy morning and my favorite steer!

I have had a lot of folks ask me if I enjoy living in the country.  They are usually ones that can't imagine themselves doing so.  Sure, it takes extra gas going to and from town and you can hardly have a clean car driving on the gravel roads, but those are a few disadvantages that I know of and don't outweigh the benefits. One is of the beautiful scenery that we are blessed to enjoy, and this morning was one of those occasions.  Since I was using the long camera lens, I was able to capture a bird in each of the three scenes below taken from our driveway facing west and north.  During my photo excursion, my favorite steer showed up wanting my attention. We currently have six angus steers and all of them are all black and brown except for this white-faced one.  Isn't he cute?

Two birdies pose for their portrait!

This birdhouse is just outside our kitchen window.  I was trying to capture these two birds interacting but instead they stopped for a moment and realized they were being photographed.  It sure looks like they are posing for their portrait! :)  Since it was overcast with a dull-looking sky, I preferred the image in sepia.  Enjoy!

A meadowlark's visit, butterflies, and wildflowers

I had been watching the milkweed that grew along the roadside front of our property and wanted to capture them at their prime.  It was a rainy morning and when the rain let up I got in my car and headed down the road bordering our property.  All of these images were taken with my Canon 100-400mm lens as I either sat in the drivers seat or moved over to the passenger side.  The first three images below are Common Milkweed.  Since milkweed attracts Monarch butterflies, I was hoping to get the Monarch in action.  I didn't see a Monarch butterfly but did see a Monarch caterpillar and could have kicked myself for not getting an image!  I didn't realize till I came back home and studied them that that's what it was!  See below for the remaining flower descriptions and I solicit your help in identifying the bird shown below.

I don't think this is a Monarch as it doesn't have the patterns on it like a Monarch butterfly.

This Goatsbeard flower is similar to a dandelion and when it is fruited it is much bigger than a fruited dandelion.

I forced myself to keep calm and try to capture this Western Meadow Lark who was so close to me.  I got so excited that he was so close!  

Catclaw Sensitive-Briar are so pretty against a green background and the pink colors look rich when the sun is not out!

These Daisy Fleabane grow plentiful out here.  The reason for their name is the settlers felt that this, and related plants, would keep fleas away.

I often see these prairie wild roses along the roadside and was pleased to capture this in my morning excursion!

This is a Wavy-leaf Thistle before it blooms with their lavender, thread-like, tubular flowers crowded into a single head.  Though it looks like a weed, I thought the pattern was interesting!