The prairies around here are approaching peak color as big-blossomed late summer wildflowers prepare to open. In the meantime, the last couple weeks have provided plenty of fodder for my camera during some early morning wandering sessions. Without a lot of explanation or interpretation, here are some of the photo highlights from my last two weeks.
If you can, get out there and do your own exploration!
Freshly molted robber fly at The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve. Nikon 105mm macro lens with Raynox 250 macro attachment. ISO 320, f/16, 1/160 sec.Prairie cordgrass and sedge meadow at sunrise. The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies. Nikon 18-300mm lens @122mm. ISO 500, f/16, 1/1600.Dragonfly in the early morning prairie. The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies. Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens. ISO 400, f/22, 1/160 sec.Striped lynx spider (Oxyopes salticus). The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/11, 1/250 sec.Delaware skipper. Lincoln Creek Prairie, Aurora, Nebraska. Nikon 105mm macro lens with Raynox 250 macro attachment. ISO 500, f/13, 1/125 sec.Rope dodder (Cuscuta glomerata), a native parasitic plant feeding on Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani). The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies. Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens. ISO 500, f/22, 1/100 sec.Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). Lincoln Creek Prairie, Aurora, Nebraska. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/18, 1/60 sec.Two-lined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta). Lincoln Creek Prairie in Aurora, Nebraska. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 640, f/11, 1/60 sec.Two-lined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta). Lincoln Creek Prairie, Aurora, Nebraska. Nikon 105mm macro lens with Raynox 250 macro attachment. ISO 640, f/18, 1/80 sec.Aphids on stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus). Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/16, 1/100 sec.Cows at sunrise in recently-planted prairie. The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies. Tokina 11-20mm lens @20mm. ISO 320, f/14, 1/125 sec.Calves on restored prairie with a windmill. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/16, 1/125 sec.Rocky mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata). The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies, Nebraska. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/10, 1/400 sec.Sweat bee climbing an anther to feed on Rocky Mountain bee plant pollen. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/10, 1/400 sec.Long-horned bees (Melissodes sp) in their overnight roost inside a prairie gentian flower (Eustoma grandiflorum). Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/16, 1/80 sec.Metallic green sweat bee in its overnight roost in a prairie gentian flower (Eustoma grandiflorum). Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/16, 1/60 sec.
Hello,
Thanks for sharing these splendid photos. The precision is very high.
What I admire most is that these photos show the beauty of the biodiversity.
Excellent work.
Sincerely yours,
M. Alami
The Prairie Ecologist 
Amazing closeups of the bees! I had no idea they were so photogenic.
Thank you for your posts. As a Texas Master Naturalist I admire your photos and comments.
All Amazing! My favorite is the dragonfly!! Oh my goodness! I plan to go out and find something to see on my walk tomorrow morning! 😊
👏👏👏📷 excellent
Hello,
Thanks for sharing these splendid photos. The precision is very high.
What I admire most is that these photos show the beauty of the biodiversity.
Excellent work.
Sincerely yours,
M. Alami
Splendid, indeed. Thanks!