October 5th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 6th.  Thirtythree degrees at 7:00 A.M.  Slight frost in sheltered sections.

 

 

 

Early afternoon, east of Cook Hill Road.

 

 

 

This is one of seven new benches placed along the Lebanon section of the trail.

 

Sitting on the bench, this is the view you have of the marsh and former Great Blue Heron roost.  (Hopefully, DEEP will do something to restore the water level in the marsh, making the site more welcoming to the birds.)

 

October 9th.  Clear dawn.

 

 

 

October 10th.  A pleasant reminder of warmer days, an open Fragrant Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata).

 

 

 

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is in bloom near the Route 85 trailhead.

 

 

 

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus), a rampant invasive - but briefly pretty in the fall.

 

 

 

 

 

Scrubby Red Maple (Acer rubrum) hasn't lost its leaves yet.

 

 

 

A few Asters still blooming.

 

 

 

And just a couple of second-growth sprigs of Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) hanging around.

 

Tiny flowers of Smartweed (Polygonum sp.) emergent from the marsh.

 

 

 

Another invasive, Barberry (Berberus sp.).

 

A Red Oak (Quercus rubra) seedling. As Fall moves along, its leaf edges will be margined in frost most mornings.

 

October 11th.  Afternoon, after a rainy morning.

 

 

 

Most likely, a Yellow Bear (Spilosoma virginica).

 

 

 

 

 

October 12th.  Walking in from Old Colchester Road, pre-dawn, hoping for a sunrise despite a nearly cloudless sky.

 

No drama, but still pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) high overhead, looking for a cornfield breakfast.

 

 

 

A loud, massive flock of birds erupted from the trees across the marsh where they must have roosted for the night.  Most likely, this was a mixed flock of Cowbirds and Blackbirds.

 

Red Maple looking mildly festive with a few red leaves and the moon as a "tree-topper".

 

This moon.  (Thank you, Canon SX-50.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 13th.  Best guess is a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) but I have low confidence in any of my hawk IDs.  ...  Ah, thanks go to Russ Smiley - he confirms my ID.