October 13th. Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) is an invasive plant introduced from Asia in the 1860s as an ornamental. It often forms thickets along forest edges.

 

 

 

Migrating Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) spend nights on the marsh, then disperse to nearby fields to glean corn.

 

Colchester's River Road Bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

Blackledge River Bridge.

 

Lyman Viaduct.

 

Foliage views from Lyman Viaduct.

 

 

 

 

 

Bull Hill area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 19th. A few Maples (Acer sp.) still sport leaves.

 

 

 

Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) can be told from a real maple by the dark berries (versus a maple's winged seeds).

 

 

 

A tomato relative, Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) has poisonous berries.

 

A few Asters still blooming, though mostly in rough shape.

 

This aster leaf has hosted two leaf-mining insect larvae. Leaf-miners live between the upper and lower surfaces of a single leaf, leaving a visible trail as evidence of their feeding that gets wider as the insect grows. The dark spots mark mwhere the adult insects emerged.

 

A Leafhopper (Family Cicadellidae) resembles a miniature Cicada.

 

A female Snowy Tree Cricket (Subfamily Oecanthinae of the Gryllidae).

 

 

 

Our stretch of the Air Line Railroad was abandoned in 1964. Ties 50 or more years old can still be found along the sides of the trail in many places.

 

 

 

Outlet of the marsh just east of the Route 207 crossing in Hebron.

 

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) leaves remain on the tree through winter. Once dry, they make a distinctive rustling noise in even the slightest breeze.

 

The distinct shape of seedling Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) leaves reveal how the tree got its name. It's also called Yellow Poplar.