Interrupting a shorebird party

The Black-necked Stilts voiced their objections when I walked toward a pond filled with birds feeding and preening.

Fancy legs and loud voices.

More than half of the partygoers took off when I approached.

The exodus when an uninvited guest arrived.

But the black and white birds stayed behind with a few others.

The Black-necked stilts didn't move toward me, but they yip-yapped loudly until I moved along.

The stilts should have been happy that I thinned the crowd so they would have more room.

The remaining party guests. excluding a bunch of white ibis that didn't want to mingle.

Damselfly encounter on the trails

Cool design.

This delicate damselfly wasn't afraid of me. 

It flitted from stem to stem and came within touching distance as I tried to focus on its slim body.

Finally I reached out palm-up and inched my hand closer and closer to the damselfly. (Sorry I couldn't get a pic at the same time.)

The black-and-white beauty briefly touched my hand, took off and landed nearby.

Then it curled its abdomen to its feet. Maybe it was cleaning itself because my sweaty palm was distasteful. Or may it thought I was flirting.

We went our separate ways.

We look at each other after briefly touching.

What are you trying to tell me? Are you looking for a mate? You like my hat?  I'm standing in an ant mound?

I will take that as a sign that I should move on. 

American Lotus' showy yellow flowers overshadow fish

American Lotus is taking over the catch-and-release fishing ponds at Sheldon Lake State Park.

Beautiful flowers ...

,,, fill the pond.

Ranger C. pulls big water lilies to relocate and clear an area near the fishing pier.