August 16th. A Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) far across the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). Very close but masked by vegetation. Trail regulars will know the spot by the stump beside it.

 

We're in a severe drought. Normally at least two feet more of this stump are submerged.

 

Two young Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis).

 

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis).

 

Caught up with the Heron, now in the open.

 

It soon flew to the other side of the trail and perched atop a dead tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back on the wide side of the marsh, a second Great Blue Heron...

 

...the first Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) I've seen in months.

 

 

 

August 17th. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in light ground fog far across the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

A brief afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog in East Hampton. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) in a sea of Common Duckweed (Lemna minor).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pond is bordered by Spotted Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatorium maculatum)...

 

 

 

...and invasive Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum virgatum).

 

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) working the Joe-Pye-weed.

 

Bumble Bees (Family Bombidae) were working it too.

 

Jewelweed or Spotted Touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis).

 

Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus).

 

Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica). Females can sting but don't unless handled. They bore in wood, creating a string of larval cells about 1/2 inch in diameter parallel to the grain.

 

A male Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis), a common local species, especially at ponds.

 

August 18th. Foggy morning after welcome rain overnight.

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

Female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), identified by the white teardrop eye ring, and three "teens".

 

The young bird behind her is showing markings of a male at this stage.

 

 

 

August 21st. On Maple, caterpillar of The Angel moth (Olceclostera angelica).

 

The recorded host plants are Ash and Lilac. I didn't notice nearby feeding damage so perhaps it had wandered onto the Maple.

 

The red scales behind the head can be displayed at will if the caterpillar is disturbed.

 

(I had disturbed it.)

 

The adult moth looks like this: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7665

 

Climbing Hempweed (Mikania scandens).

 

Also called Climbing Boneset.

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) at the little pool down towards Old Colchester Road.

 

 

 

 

 

Puffed for warmth? It was roughly 56 degrees this morning.