May 6th.  Lush colors at the Route 85 trail head in Amston.

 

 

 

Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is in full bloom now.

 

Spring colors at their peak.

 

 

 

May 7th.  Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor).

 

 

 

 

 

A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

QUACK!

 

 

 

May 7th, afternoon, at the heron roost in Lebanon.  Activity on two of the nests, and nearby American Toads were in chorus.

 

Clouds coming in ahead of rain promised for tomorrow.

 

May 9th.  A break in the rain long enough for a walk east of Route 207.  Crab Apple at the parking area.

 

 

 

Grape (Vitus sp.) leaf and flower buds unfurling.

 

Green Frog (Rana clamitans) in a trailside ditch.

 

 

 

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and goslings at the Rod & Gun Club clearing.

 

First Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) I've seen this year.

 

 

 

May 10th.  A foggy 50 degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) out this morning.

 

Dew on backlit oak leaves.

 

A short afternoon walk, focused on macro photography.  This is a Speedwell (Veronica sp.).  Flowers about 5mm across.

 

 

 

 

 

Chickweed (Stellaria sp.).

 

Probably Wood Strawberry (Fragraria vesca).

 

Buttercups (Ranunculus sp.).

 

 

 

Spurge (Euphorbia sp.).  What appears to be the flowers are actually bracts.  The flowers are small and arise between the bracts.

 

Lots of insects were visiting them; the most common being ants (Family Formicidae).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A female parasitic wasp (Family Ichneumonidae or Braconidae) searching for other insects into which it will insert its eggs.

 

 

 

A fly; not sure which family.

 

Probably a Long-jawed Orb Weaver (Tetragnatha sp.).  As is typical of these spiders, they rest under a grass leaf with their legs extended along the blade.  This one has one leg extended to a silk strand.  When this strand is disturbed by an insect caught in the web, the spider investigates.

 

 

 

A Leafhopper - also called a Sharpshooter (Family Cicadellidae).  This one moved around the back of the stem to keep out of my sight, no matter which way I moved for a better view.  It has one eye on me.

 

Dandelion seeds.

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of invasive Barberry (Berberus sp.) in bloom.

 

 

 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arasaema sp.).

 

Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) has just started blooming.

 

May 12th. Pink form of Morrow's Honeysuckle.

 

First of the Pink Lady's-slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) to pink-up.