May 3rd.  Male Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia).

 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).

 

Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) nests starting to expand.  Caterpillars still tiny.

 

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica).

 

Forsythia still blooming at the Route 85 trail head.

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) blooming now.

 

 

 

 

 

A short walk east from Route 207.  Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are a great early source of pollen for Bumble Bee queens just starting their broods in underground nests.

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) blooming now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I noticed ripples like this but was too slow to get pictures before they passed by.  But, a small stick thrown into the water to the left gave me all the ripples I needed for my own staged photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) flower I've seen this spring.

 

Purple Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum).

 

 

 

May 4th.  Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).  Thanks again to Russ Smiley for the ID.

 

Shadbush or Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea).

 

 

 

May 5th.  Wood Anenome (Anenome quinquefolia).

 

 

 

At Cranberry Bog, all five goslings are doing well...

 

 

...under watchful eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

Back on the "island", the Mallard female is still brooding her eggs...

 

...and the Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) continue to bask.

 

May 6th.  Unusual clouds this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barred Owl (Strix varia) just east of Old Colchester Road.

 

(Thanks to Dave Dubos - son of Bob Dubos of UConn collections fame - for pausing his bike ride to tip me off on where I might see the owl.  Dave said he'd seen a total of three between East Hampton and Hebron.)