Falcons on the Prairie

I was on a field trip in South Dakota last week and at our first stop near a prairie dog town on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands, our local guide Dan Svingen pointed out a Prairie Falcon flying across the dog town. The Prairie Falcon was soon attacked from above by a Merlin.

No sooner had the Merlin headed out when a Peregrine Falcon took a couple of passes at the Prairie Falcon. 

Other interesting observations on the trip included the following insects - a  bit tattered Regal Fritillary, 

a bumblebee of undetermined species,

and this Praying Mantis,