The pace of June continues to quicken as we advance toward the solstice on June 21. With the early sunrise at this time of year, the local songbirds announce their proclamations of home territory.
They find the calm conditions at these morning hours ideal for vocalizing their nesting sites.
Northlanders interested in bird songs frequently rise very early in June to observe -- visually and aurally -- these avians.
But June days are full of natural happenings, and those who choose to sleep late will find much to see as well. The woods are full of late-spring shade-tolerant wild flowers.
Blue-bead lilies and bunchberries abound in such locations, along with an ever-increasing variety of ferns. Out in the fields, the open-area wild flowers are also beginning their blooming.
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Hawkweed, daisy, vetch and yarrow are already putting on notable floral displays. In the wetlands, plants continue to show as water calla and yellow pond-lily are opening.
And there's more in the sunlight on these clear days of June.
This is the time when various insects arrive, and often they warm their bodies by basking in the solar glow.
The recently returned monarchs have joined black-and-yellow tiger swallowtails, orange-black checkered fritillaries, whites and sulphur butterflies -- even some tiny skippers -- as butterfly diversity continues to climb. No early rising needed to watch butterflies: Most don't fly before 9 a.m.
Also soaking in the warm sunlight now is the new crop of dragonflies. The dragonfly season began with the arrival of the migrant green darner in April. (I saw the first one April 23.)
Its migrating status is unique for these excellent-flying insects.
Others stayed in their immature stage under water until late May, when, responding to the warmer weather and longer days, they entered adulthood and took wing.
Usually under the cover of darkness, these aquatic larvae select a stick, rock, plant or one of our docks to climb up on. When out of their watery home, their exoskeleton splits down the back and the dragonflies pull themselves from within to begin the winged, mature part of their lives.
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Stretching and basking in the morning sunlight, they strengthen their four wings and take flight as though they are used to such mobility.
Species of dragonflies will continue to emerge for the next two months, but some of the early ones that I have seen so far bear names such as beaverpond baskettails, Hudsonian whitefaces, chalk-fronted corporals and four-spotted skimmers.
It is the last of these that I see often during my June afternoon walks. Sitting quietly on roadside and trailside plants, they spread their wings to attain the greatest warmth.
At the same time, they are also alert to any potential bug meals that come by. From these perches, they dart out, grasping a variety of insects -- including mosquitoes. Excellent eyesight and flying skills make these 2-inch insects formidable predators.
Instead of looking for four spots on the body, perhaps the best way to recognize one is to see the black tip of the abdomen, the tail.
Soon other species of dragonflies will leave their water immaturity and take to the air.
We'll see many kinds during our summer trips to the lake, but the emergence begins now.
Retired teacher Larry Weber is author of several books that are available now. E-mail Weber care of budgeteer@duluthbudgeteer.com .
