July 3rd.  A few things where the trail crosses Route 207 in Hebron. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

 

 

 

 

 

Chicory (Cichorium intybus).  Early in the day before the pollen would be showing.

 

(My favorite of this series of photos.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male flowers of Chestnut (Castanea sp.) - I won't guess which species - are putting out an overwhelming fragrance, not to everyone's taste.

 

If you're anywhere near where Route 207 in Hebron crosses the Air Line Trail, you really ought to experience the aroma!  You'll smell it as soon as you exit your car.

 

Not sure of the identity of this beetle, but suspect Tenebrionidae, genus Isomira, maybe I. sericea.  See: https://bugguide.net/node/view/301286

 

July 4th.  Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) chicks ready to fledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dead tree is riddled with holes, with swallows investigating them all.

 

An afternoon walk, back to Raymond Brook Marsh.  A particularly dark Canada Lily (Lilium canadense).

 

I see a few speckles on the inside of the petals.  I wonder if there was some gene flow from a Tiger Lily in its past.

 

The more typical yellow color.

 

 

 

 

 

One of three species of Meadowhawk dragonflies (Sympetrum sp.)  Field discrimination between male Ruby, Cherry-faced, and White Faced Meadowhawks is not reliable.

 

High-bush Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are ripening fast.

 

 

 

Rabbits-foot Clover (Trifolium arvense).

 

 

 

Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) is just starting to bloom.

 

 

 

Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta).

 

July 5th.  A female Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) perched on the old beaver lodge on the channel side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota).

 

Black Raspberries (Rubus occidentalis).

 

I'm not sure what's going on here.  The berries and leaves are of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), but what is the new growth?  Is it part of the Poison Ivy, or another plant twining with it?

 

The first adult female Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) with egg mass that I've seen this year.  Males (brown, a bit over an inch in wingspan, and seemingly always in flight) are around though not in great numbers, thankfully.

 

Back on June 24th (see: http://www.performance-vision.com/airline2018/airline-summer-18a.htm) I found two small caterpillars.  The first was of a Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).  It's about half grown now and no longer looks like a bird poop.  Now it is countershaded green to blend in with the leaves where it rests and feeds...

 

...and sports a small pair of eye spots.

 

 

 

The other caterpillar, of a Unicorn Prominent (Schizura unicornis), today has formed a protective cocoon of sorts, sandwiched between two cherry leaves.  This stage is referred to as a prepupa.  The caterpillar has shortened and grown more oval, and lost much of its color.  In a day or two, it will shed the caterpillar skin to reveal the pupal stage.