July 30th. A Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos).

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

Hairy Lettuce (Lactuca hirsuta).

 

 

 

A vespid wasp on Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

Summersweet.

 

Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is showing the peapod like seeds that collect on our clothes as we walk by. These seeds are the "ticks" that give the plant its common name. "Trefoil" comes from the leaves made up of three leaflets as is common for many members of the pea family; e.g., the clovers.

 

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) mimics the familiar Monarch.

 

Underside of the Viceroy.

 

Closeup of New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis).

 

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis).

 

Lettuce seeds (Lactuca sp.).

 

Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis).

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) on a Wood Duck house.

 

Tree Swallows (Iridoprocne bicolor).

 

Monarch (Danaus plexippus) on Joe-Pye-Weed (Eupatorium sp.).

 

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana).

 

A Leaf-footed Bug (Family Coreidae). The hind legs have flattened projections. In some tropical forms these are much larger and brighly colored.

 

The small red spot on the side of the thorax is a scent gland.

 

 

 

A female Polistes wasp on Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

A metamorphosing Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor). Thanks to Kent Wells at UConn for the ID.

 

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara). It blooms in early spring before the leaves appear.

 

Summer form of Eastern Comma butterfly (Polygonia comma).

 

Pale-spike Lobellia (Lobellia spicata).

 

Slender Ladies'-Tresses (Spiranthes cernua), an orchid.

 

Note how the blossoms spiral around the stalk.

 

August 5th. The marsh is almost completely covered by water lilies.

 

A Banded Purple (Limenitis "proserpina"), which is a hybrid between a southern Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) and a northern White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis). The white markings on the front wing give it away. Hybrids like this are common in southern New England.

 

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an invasive species.

 

August 8th. A Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon). Moments later, it dove and caught a fish.