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!

The season's first wildflowers...

It is so relaxing to photograph nature!  I took the time to venture outside to capture the first wildflowers that have sprouted at The Smith Ranch.  The first image was taken on my first day outside of a blue wild-indigo wildflower.  On another day, I captured some more blue wild-indigo, Missouri evening primrose, a goatsbeard wildflower, prairie groundsel, and finally beardtongue.  I have also listed the flower names above the images below.  Enjoy!

This is the Missouri evening primrose.  It was sprouted on the side of our driveway.

This is a goatsbeard.  It is similar to a dandelion but when it sprouts it is much bigger than a dandelion.

Prairie groundsel is below and these look like tiny daisies.

Finally some beardtongue.  When you look close at the petals before they bloom they look like a lips!