A white peacock in the backyard

Sorry if the title of the post was a little misleading.  I'm not talking about a bird, but rather a white peacock butterfly.  It's not one that I have seen very often around here, so I was happy to see it visiting.  It's relatively small in comparison to my usual Monarchs, and pretty in a non-ostentatious way.

Pretty markings on this white peacock.

Hanging on to a twig near the water.

A pretty egret couldn't decide if he was coming or going today.  He looked around the canal for a while, then flew off, then came right back to explore some more.

Showing off that wide wingspan as he flies away.  (Can you see him in the center of the picture?)

I'm back!!!

Today was a busy day for other water birds as well.  A male anhinga stopped on the sand across the canal to dry out his wings.  And a pair of Egyptian geese surveyed the canal trying to decide if they should go take a dip.  They didn't.

I have a pretty wide wingspan too, you know.

Should we go for a swim?  Nah. We'll just chill here in the shade.

A handsome Muscovy boy enjoyed some food with the regulars.  We really have more boys than we need, but he's welcome to join the group.  He actually has a brother that looks just like him that is now in the backyard too.  I can't tell them apart.

One of two almost identical brothers.

One last water bird, a gallinule, spent a lot of time foraging in the water in the alcove, looking for algae or whatever else looks yummy.

Checking out the food prospects at the water's edge

The reptiles were also busy today.  An iguana showed off his "pretty" face after he finally finished molting the skin on it.  He still has his body to go.

A new fresh face to show off.

A much smaller, and kind of cute, anole lizard hid in the ferns along the canal bank waiting for an unwary bug to come by.  He has to be careful because, unlike the iguana, he is prey to a number of birds around the backyard.  Iguanas have no predators once they reach a few weeks old.

Quite a contrast to the iguana, but still a reptile!

 

Finally, my dahlia plant in the screened patio is about to show its long-awaited blossom at last.  I'm looking forward to seeing it in all its glory.

Poised to burst into bloom!