August 8th (continued).  A hot afternoon walk at Raymond Brook Marsh.  Lots of Hymenoptera active.  I'm pretty sure this is a Ground Hornet (Vespula vudia); in any case one of the Vespula Yellowjackets.

 

And this is a Blackjacket (Vespula consobrina).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata).

 

A Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus).  This and the wasps above are all in the Family Vespidae, easily identified by the pleat-folded forewings.

 

 

 

 

 

A pair of Thread-waisted Wasps (Family Sphecidae) which I first noticed "flying united".

 

Lots of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) foraging as well.

 

A Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga sp., perhaps S. aldrichi which parasitizes Forest Tent Caterpillars).

 

A Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) showing its age with tattered wings.

 

I saw two immature female Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) barely showing stubby wings.

 

 

 

Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) berries will feed birds soon.

 

Round-headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 9th.  The Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) caterpillar found on willow has transformed to the chrysalis stage and should soon emerge as a butterfly.  An eye (bottom), antenna, and front wing are seen etched into the surface.  Abdomen with spiracles at the top; attached to the leaf by a button of silk.

 

Not obvious in these close-up views, but from a distance it looks a bit like a particularly goopy bird poop.

 

 

 

August 10th.  Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divicariatus).

 

 

 

Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)...

 

...and its dew-covered sticky seeds.

 

 

 

Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum).

 

 

 

Once more, Primrose Moth (Schinia florida) on Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis).

 

They've been more common this year than any year I can remember.

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) on the hunt.

 

Stalking something.

 

Aborted without a strike.  This time the prey got away.

 

Lots more mushrooms.  I won't guess this one.

 

Maybe a Gilled Bolete (Phylloporus rhodoxanthus)?

 

American Caesar's Mushroom (Amanita caesarea).

 

 

 

August 12th. Young male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) in the usual spot.

 

Carrion-flower (Smilax herbacea) berries.  They'll turn nearly back as they ripen.

 

I found four more Red Admiral (Limenitis archippus) caterpillars today.  This time on Aspen (Populus sp.).

 

They feed while sitting on a mat of silk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close-up view of the head.  The three black dots are simple eyes or ocelli.

 

Three of the caterpillars were nearly full grown.  This, the fourth, was an early instar, about 1 centimeter long.

 

August 13th.  Fragrant Water-Lily (Nymphaea odorata).

 

Young female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) on a favorite spot.

 

Young male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).  Younger than the male photographed yesterday.

 

 

 

White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma) caterpillar.

 

Hiding.

 

Exposed.  Nymph of a Leaf-footed Bug (Family Coreidae).

 

Pretty sure these are Cinnabar-red Chanterelles (Cantharellus cinnabarinus).