August 11th.  Back on the trail after several weeks away.  An afternoon walk, with thunder showers audible in the distance.  Hot and humid, as it has been for weeks.

 

Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia).

 

Despite the approaching storm, lots of butterflies were active including this Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)...

 

...this Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus), and (not photographed) a Tiger Swallowtail and Red Admiral.

 

August 13th.    Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

 

 

Green Frog (Rana clamitans).

 

This Stinkpot mud turtle (Sternothaerus odoratus) obligingly trotted - if turtles can be said to trot - towards me while I snapped away.

 

Finally noticed me and hunkered down.

 

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

 

 

August 16th.  A mixed flock of swallows passing through.

 

Tree Swallows (Pachycineta bicolor) with the white bellies, plus a few Purple Martins (Progne subis).

 

This cluster seems to be all Purple Martins (Progne subis) except for one Tree Swallow at the right.

 

 

 

Boletes common after frequent recent rains.

 

 

 

Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum), a mint.

 

August 18th.  Bluecurls up close.

 

 

 

Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus diaricatus).

 

 

 

A small cluster of Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) blooming at the Route 85 trailhead.

 

Look at all that pollen!

 

August 23rd.  White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the trail...

 

...and crossing the marsh...

 

...to safety.

 

 

 

 

 

August 24th.  A brief visit to Cranberry Bog in East Hampton.  Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

 

 

Young Wood Duck males beginning to show adult coloration.

 

 

 

A moth resting on a Water Lily pad.  But not just any moth...

 

This is a rather old and battered female Waterlily Borer (Elophila gyralis).  The caterpillar grows up underwater in water-lily petioles.

 

The invasive Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

 

Bumble Bees working it...

 

...and working the Spotted Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatoreium maculatum).

 

A Halictid "Sweat Bee", probably a male Agapostemon virescens.

 

A nymphal Assassin Bug (Family Reduviidae).

 

A male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).

 

 

 

 

 

August 25th.  Cabbage White or European Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapae), cloaked in dew.