September 6th. The Moon, and Mars at the lower right.

 

Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tree Swallows seem to be gone now.

 

This is their favorite communal perch in summer.

 

 

 

Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea) silk nests.

 

 

 

Caterpillars and their "frass" inside the silk nest.

 

This Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) was patient enough to pose for many pictures. Here are a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 7th. Ground fog quickly yielding to bright sun. The marsh is nearly dry; driest I can recall ever seeing.

 

September 8th. Another Amanita sp.

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) number 1, deep in the emergent foliage on the south side of the trail.

 

Great Blue Heron number 2, 30 feet or so to the right (west).

 

Number 2 starts displaying.

 

 

 

 

 

Number 1 gets into the act.

 

 

 

 

 

Great "demo" of how the bird's eyes are oriented to face forward and down, ideally suited to binocular vision for estimating distance to prey.

 

 

 

A Green Heron (Butorides virescens) perches not far from Great Blue Heron number 2.

 

 

 

As number 2 approaches, the Green Heron (upper left) flies off.

 

The stump I use to estimate water depth. You can see color bands near the top corresponding to normal high water and normal low water. Now the entire stump is out of the water, as are other stumps, rocks, and the muddy bottom. Unprecedented drought.

 

Fragrant Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata).

 

 

 

Another nearby, emerging directly from the muddy bottom.

 

Great Blue Heron number 3, just to the left of the stump, and to the right of number 2.

 

 

 

Number 3 spots number 2...

 

...and stalks off towards it.

 

 

 

Another look...

 

...and more stalking.

 

Some calling.

 

More stalking...

 

 

 

...but a confrontation is averted.

 

Number 1 is busy hunting and ignores the other two birds.

 

 

 

Number 2 watches but doesn't engage.