September 26th.  Clouds bring out the fall colors along the trail. We don't get especially bright foliage along the trail - this is typical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), stock still at the edge of the marsh.

 

Ah, perhaps she was presenting herself to an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)...

 

...to have ticks or other vermin gleaned from her coat.  Alternatively, perhaps the bird simply found the deer a convenient perch.  (Sorry for the poor quality of the photo: low light, high digital noise.)

 

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens).

 

Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) are flocking along the marsh edges.  In flight, they remind me of the already-departed Tree Swallows.

 

 

 

A brief stop at Cranberry Bog in mid-afternoon.  A couple of Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) sunning, covered in Duckweed (Lemna minor).

 

Fruits of Common Nightshade (Solanum nigrum).

 

Nodding Ladies-tresses orchids (Spiranthes cernua) are still blooming.

 

 

 

One of these days, I'll get an ID for this grasshopper.

 

Ditto for this female Katydid (Family Tettigoniidae).

 

Note the sword-like ovipositor.

 

Misc. Hemipteran.  Working on an ID.

 

September 27th.  Asters.

 

Subtle colors.

 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum).

 

Woolly Bears (Pyrrharctia isabella) are on the move.

 

I'm at a loss to explain exactly what this rider was doing - but I'd love to know.  His trailer carries a series of plastic tubs and at least one hibachi grate.  But at the left is a radio-controlled model car he managed to keep on the trail ahead of him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), I assume?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Self-portrait.

 

 

 

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) again?

 

 

 

Colors stand out in afternoon light.

 

 

 

 

 

September 27th.

 

Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) are passing through.  This is a male.

 

A young male at left, a mature male at right.

 

Female at left (teardrop-shaped eye marking).