June 21st.  Seems like the Yellow Warbler has spent a long time incubating.

 

June 22nd.  One of two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodius) on the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

The Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) have fledged from the nest just west of the bench in the marsh.

 

June 25th.  Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) chicks have fledged.  Note the stubby tail feathers.  Parents following them around to feed them.

 

June 26th.  Green frogs (Rand clamitans) were out on the trail after last night's rain.

 

 

 

A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) near the mostly dry marsh exit.

 

An Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), wet from rain-soaked foliage.

 

June 27th.  A brief afternoon visit to Cranberry Bog in East Hampton.  Sweet Peas in bloom and an unusual grey shape at the water's edge.

 

Ah, a Great Blue Heron trying to cool off.  In addition to the posture, note the open beak.

 

If this were video, you could see the bird's throat vibrating - a "gular flutter" that helps to expel heat.

 

Back on the hunt.

 

One of two pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).  The pond is carpeted in Duckweed (Lemna minor).

 

A male Common Pondhawk dragonfly (Erythemis simplicicollis).

 

Many of the plants in bloom today are in the Pea Family (Fabaceae).  This is Common Vetch (Vicia cracca).

 

 

 

This is Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia).

 

 

 

Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

 

And the final pea of the day, Sweet Pea (Lathrus odoratus).

 

A Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium sp.).

 

Knapweed (Centaurea sp.).

 

 

 

A Chickweed, probably Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea).

 

June 30th.  Momma Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) and five of her six "teenage" chicks.  The two on the left appear to be females; the three on the right are males.

 

 

 

All six chicks in this photo.

 

Two chicks in the Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) nest. Dad at upper right bringing a nice juicy caterpillar to hungry mouths.

 

This chick looks particularly large and nearly ready to fledge.

 

Chicory (Chicorium intybus) near Rt 207.

 

 

 

 

 

A female Green Metallic Bee (Family Halictidae, Agapostemon sp.).  Compared to the photo above, see how the bee has stripped much of the flower's pollen.

 

 

 

 

 

July 1st.    Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus).

 

Female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) and a young male.  Both incapable of flight: the female molting; the male's wing feathers not fully developed.

 

Young Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) waiting impatiently to be fed.

 

A number of them around, but not nearly the numbers seen in past years.

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

Carolina Rosa (Rosa carolina).

 

July 2nd.  One Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) chick perched high above the nest, calling for food.  No sign of the other chick.

 

All aflutter as a parent came near.

 

Young Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) still gathering together, hoping to be fed.

 

A young (second spring?) Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) with carapace maybe 5" long...

 

...a characteristicf high-stepping stance...

 

...and a face only another snapper could love.

 

This Stinkpot mud turtle (Sternothaerus odoratus) is no beauty either.

 

 

 

A female Black-winged Damselfly (Calopteryx maculatum).  Females have white stigmas on their wings and a muted bronze metallic sheen on some body parts.  (Male stigmas are black and the body bright metallic green (sometimes edging towards blue or pruple).

 

Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum).

 

 

 

Bracted Plantain or Buckhorn (Plantago aristata)

 

Frostweed (Helianthemum canadense)