May 31st. An immature male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)...

 

...between lily pads...

 

...hunting insects.

 

 

 

 

 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius).

 

 

 

Small (~4") Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are on the move.

 

 

 

A winged female Carpenter Ant (Camponotus sp., probably C. pennsylvanicus).

 

A male Black-winged Damselfly (Calopteryx maculatum).

 

June 2nd. Three-spotted Fillip moth (Heterophelps triguttaria).

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure this is a Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus).

 

A male Common Yellowthroat warbler (Geothlypis trichas).

 

 

 

A female Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) I think.

 

 

 

The resident Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

 

 

Wonderful shapes and shadings on these new oak leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ants are getting something of value on these new leaves.

 

 

 

The largest ant seems to be atop a winged aphid, and there are nymphal aphids nearby. Herding for honeydew?

 

It's as if the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) hasn't moved in days. (It has though, but not much.)

 

An Oak Apple Gall, produced by a single tiny Cynipid gall-forming wasp.

 

A young Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)...

 

...let me get quite close.

 

A small tick below its eye.

 

False Solomon's-seal (Smilacina racemosa) is in full bloom now.

 

Slender Vetch (Vicia tetrasperma). I don't think I've ever consciously seen this species before. The flowers are few and teeny.

 

 

 

Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum).

 

Hmm, another interesting fly. I'll guess Empididae until I can get some ID help.

 

June 3rd. Natural smiley face courtesy of Maple Eye Spot Galls made by a midge (Family Cecidomyiidae, Acericecis occelaris).

 

Long-legged Fly (Family Dolichopodidae, Condylostylus sp.).

 

A male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

 

Another male Common Yellowthroat warbler (Geothlypis trichas)... or the same one as it was in the same spot.

 

 

 

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) was facing the other direction today. Woo Hoo! (But still no sign of a baby or two.)