Along the Air Line... 2016 - Summer, Part 1
The Air Line Trail in Eastern Connecticut - Stan Malcolm Photos

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June 21st. Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is starting to bloom.

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

 

 

 

 

Two beaks.  Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chicks are doing fine.

 

 

An afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog in East Hampton.  Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa).

 

 

Crown vetch (CoronilLa varia).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) goslings are growing up.  Still lacking adult plumage.

 

 

June 22nd.  The Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chicks are getting big...

 

 

...and hungry.

 

 

 

 

 

June 23rd.  Three beaks!  Feeding time at the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) nest brought a third chick out of hiding.

 

 

Swamp-Honeysuckle, an Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum).

 

 

A female Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis).

 

 

June 24th.  A Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) grooming not far from its nest.

 

 

 

 

 

I only spotted the well-hidden nest because I heard the chicks calling.

 

 

This Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chick has lost most of the fuzz from its head.  Body and wing feathers coming along.

 

 

Momma Wood Duck and a couple of her teenagers: male close to her; female at the left.

 

 

June 25th.  Make that four Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chicks.  Two beaks at the far right.

 

 

June 26th.  Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chicks are about ready to fledge I think.

 

 

Parents very attentive.

 

 

"Stinkpot" mud turtle (Sternothaerus odoratus).

 

 

Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris).

 

 

Hmm, what are those two dark lines in the middle?

 

 

Ah, spider legs lurking.

 

 

June 27th.  White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) doe, far across the marsh.  The day before, I saw a buck with antlers in velvet at the smaller marsh to the east.

 

 

My how the Eastern KIngbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chicks continue to grow.

 

 

A few down tufts left on its head.

 

 

 

 

 

A young (or female) Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) looks on.

 

 

Ants tending their herd of Wooley Alder Aphids.  The aphids gain protection from predators and parasitoids while the ants get honeydew rewards from the aphids.

 

 

The white spots are waxy exudates from special glands on the aphid's body.

 

 

Limber Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica) fruits.

 

 

 

 

 

Two very different bees on Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina).

 

 

June 28th.    Surely the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chicks will fledge today!

 

 

Down on their heads almost completely gone.

 

 

The other chicks are still tucked down in the nest.

 

 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) still incubating eggs.

 

 

June 29th.  As expected, the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) chicks have fledged.

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) with Pickerelweed blooming in the background.

 

 

Carolina Roses (Rosa carolina).

 

 

June 30th.  Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma).

 

 

Eyed Brown (Satyrodes eurydice).

 

 

Timothy-grass (Phleum pratense) nicely backlit.