June: The Best

For the past several summers, I have gone butterfly counting as often as possible. This year is no different. I’ll be back in Arkansas where I made this photo in a few weeks. Last year in June I was with the usual crew counting butterflies at the “Rick Evans” Grandview Prairie Nature Center near Hope, Ark. It was the best count ever! At least the best in my relatively short career as a butterfly counter. Prairies are wonderful butterfly habitat, and we saw lots. But the best sighting of the day, for me, at least, was this little beauty. Only…

March: Chicago

2023 was my 12th anniversary of going to Chicago several times a year. In the beginning, it was all about opera, and opera still determines when I go. But soon the good side of social media helped me find photographer friends and my trips became equally about opera and hanging out with them. It often happens that Lyric Opera of Chicago has a March offering that appeals. March 26, 2022 – The opera was Tosca, a classic and a fabulous performance as usual. The day was spent on a walk-about with Adam, Tom, and Tami, all among my fave people…

January: Birds

I did not do a “Year in Review” in 2023. I had taken on a new part-time job in the fall of 2022, and I just could not find the time to do it. And I still have that job so I’m still awfully busy, but I’m determined. So I have decided to do pairs of photos this time, one per month for each year, 2022 and 2023. January 29, 2022 – This beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) perched on a branch just yards away and posed for me. I was entering Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge to meet a…