August 21st. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis).

 

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis).

 

Virgin's Bower or Wild Clematis (Clematis virginiana).

 

August 23rd. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

Also on the 23rd, a shy Northern River Otter (Lutra canadensis) visited the marsh.

 

August 31st. A mouse, probably a young White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus).

 

September 8th.

 

September 9th.

 

September 16th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rain over the past few days has swollen Grayville Falls.

 

Asters (Aster sp.)

 

A female Blister Beetle (Meloe angusticollis). When disturbed, blister beetles "reflex bleed" from their leg joints. The fluid contains Cantharidin, a defensive compound that blisters skin and causes internal hemorrhaging if eaten.

 

A Yellow Bear (Spilosoma virginica), the caterpillar of a Tiger Moth.
(Thanks to Mississippi State's Dr. Richard Brown for identifying this insect.)

 

An Assasin Bug (Family Reduviidae; Sinea sp.) on Goldenrod (Solidago sp.). Assasin bugs typically prey on other insects but can inflict a painful bite with their piercing mouthparts if handled carelessly. Note the powerful front legs for grasping prey.
(Thanks to UConn's Dr. Jane O'Donnell for identification of this insect.)

 

Diverse mushrooms have appeared after the rain.

 

 

 

September 18th. A brief excursion to the East Hampton trail head where I found a patch of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an invasive plant that has choked waterways in the south. Thankfully, so far it has not survived our New England winters.

 

 

 

A Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) on Asters.

 

Asters (Aster sp.).

 

September 19th. I took a brief noontime walk along the trail in North Westchester. These photos were taken near Norton Pond off River Road.

 

Fall colors are subtle along the trail.

 

Asters (Aster sp.).

 

A Broad-headed Bug (Family Alydidae, Megalotomus quinquespinosus).
(Thanks to UConn's Dr. Jane O'Donnell for identification of this insect.)

 

Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis).

 

Knapweed (Centaurea sp.).