October 7th. A smallish Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) near the pond east of Route 207.

 

They sure can tuck their heads in deep.

 

Now I sit and wait for movement.

 

A little fall color across from the bench where I sat.

 

Ah hah!

 

Very cautiously, it extended its neck...

 

 

 

 

 

...and had a good look around...

 

...especially at me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it quickly (for a turtle) moved off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think this is Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium).

 

 

 

 

 

Two species of Flower Fly (Family Syrphidae) on Chicory (Cichorium intybus).

 

Feeding on pollen.

 

 

 

October 8th. Back at Raymond Brook Marsh almost exactly one week since a knee problem felled me. I'm walking slowly and carry a cane as insurance, but it felt great to be "home". I think this is an immature Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).

 

I count 14 American Crows (Corvus brachyrhyncos) in this photo. They stayed ahead of me down the marsh...

 

...before finally taking off over the trail.

 

Later sunrises mean more shadows on the marsh, but still not early enough for sunrise photos.

 

Even as I walked back, the sun hadn't quite reached the trail surface.

 

October 9th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) this morning.

 

 

 

October 10th. Out before dawn, hoping for a sunrise. Didn't get much.

 

A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) far across the marsh.

 

As usual lately, American Crows (Corvus brachyrhyncos) were feeding on the marsh mud...

 

...and congregating in a dead tree across the marsh. (See the distant specs?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An unidentified small hawk...

 

...one of a pair.

 

At last, the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias).

 

One...

 

...and two. This looks like a young bird just getting adult feathers. (Lousy low light photo with digital noise.)

 

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata).