May 3rd.  Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) will be harder to spot as foliage fills out.

 

A Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus).

 

 

 

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) at their favorite nest tree.

 

 

 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).

 

Male Common Yellowthroat warbler (Geothlypis trichas).

 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).

 

Back out for an afternoon walk.  Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

 

Ants were all over many of the flowers.

 

 

 

Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) were soaking up the warmth of trailside rocks.  Note the Poison Ivy nearby.

 

The snakes don't climb trees, but Poison Ivy (Toxicodendrom radicans) sure does.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First of the Cherry (Prunus sp.) seedlings in bloom.

 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) "polynoses".

 

 

 

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum).

 

 

 

A pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

 

 

 

The bent feather was probably the result of a territorial fight.  They're feeding on the abundant Hummock Sedge (Carex stricta) flowers.

 

Goose food, close up.  Carex stricta

 

Lots of Bellwort (Uvularia sp.) in bloom.

 

 

 

Male March Flies (Family Bibionidae; Bibio sp.) are pollinators.

 

Pink Lady's-slipper Orchids (Cypripedium acaule) are beginning to unfurl.  Blossoms come later in May through early June.

 

Lots of Violets (Viola sp.) at this time of year.

 

 

 

United Distiller's chimney.

 

Two Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) wre exhibiting some interesting behavior.  They'd fly from a nearby perch...

 

...and splash in the water...

 

...then return to their perches and groom.

 

I saw no evidence of them feeding so perhaps they were just bathing.

 

Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) were feeding in flocks, oblivious to passers-by.

 

May 4th. Lots of Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) in pairs.  When they nest, I'll see them only one at a time.

 

May 5th.  Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) are pairing up.  Here's the male...

 

...and nearby was the female.

 

May 6th.  A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) about to land.

 

Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) are abundant this year.

 

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) near an active nest.

 

 

 

May 7th.  Another (or the same?) Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) as first spotted on May 3rd.

 

A flash of color at the Rt 85 trail head led me to this male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).

 

May 8th.  A male Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) posed for the camera.

 

Who, me?

 

A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) with a beak full of nesting material.