May 16th.  First Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) flower of the year.

 

 

 

Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum biflorum).  In larger plants, the pendant green flowers are in pairs.

 

 

 

May 17th.  Lady's-slipper orchids (Cyprepedium acaule) are almost full out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is blooming.  Lots of it in bloom, but very little produces berries.

 

Limber Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica)

 

 

 

Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense).

 

 

 

Dandelion seed head.

 

 

 

 

 

Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), a common invasive.

 

Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis).  Note flower umbels on a separate stalk and poison ivy all around it.

 

 

 

 

 

Pond or Bullhead Lily (Nuphar vareigatum).

 

A Flower Fly (Family Syrphidae) atop the same flower.

 

An Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) nesting above the trail exactly where there was a nest last year.  If you don't believe me, scroll down here: http://www.performance-vision.com/airline2013/airline-spring-13h.htm

 

May 18th.  Back out early with my tripod to get more Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) pictures at their nest.

 

Standing at the bench, looking west, the nest is at the arrow.

 

While the female adds cattail fluff to line the nest, the male is often nearby, preventing other birds from getting too close.

 

All bets are off when he's away though.  (See below.)

 

A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) came close while the male was away.  The female is on the nest, arranging the lining.

 

The female arriving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note the beak full of cattail fluff.  A soft warm bed for eggs and chicks.

 

The resident female (presumably) arranging the nest lining.

 

Another Kingbird swooped in while the resident was away and quickly departed with a beak full of fluff.  (Last year's nest was raided too: http://www.performance-vision.com/airline2013/airline-spring-13h.htm)

 

May 21st.  First Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) of the year.

 

 

 

May 29th.  Recent grafitti on the historic Brownstone Bridge over River Road in Colchester.

 

Someone needs to have a pointed conversation with the idiot who did this.  Consequences would be nice too.

 

The rock cut just west of the bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't get to see the Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) in bloom this spring.

 

Now the fruits are developing as well as fresh leaves.