September 27th. First Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) I've seen at the marsh in awhile.

 

A couple of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) far away where I've seen them hanging out recently...

 

...in the dead tree often used by Tree Swallows over the summer.

 

Low light awful Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) photo - but hard to have them stay still for photos.

 

September 28th. Colorful sunrise as I drove to the trail, but only low clouds when I arrived.

 

 

 

On the trail later, the sun behind low clouds was nice.

 

 

 

September 29th. An afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog where I saw at least 11 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, one pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). His head feathers look kinda rough.

 

His mate looks much better.

 

 

 

 

 

Her nostrils look like another set of eyes.

 

There's a large area of invasive Water Hyacinth (Pontederia - formerly Eichhornia - crassipes).

 

Beautiful, but bad news. I saw it at this pond ten or fifteen years ago and reported it, but was told it wouldn't survive our winters. I sure hope that hasn't changed given last year's mild winter.

 

It clogs waterways down south. More about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDChu1UZ7qc&t=2s

 

Mixed in with the Water Hyacinth is another invasive, Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes).

 

More about Water Lettuce here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gECQzo1IywY

 

The dark green leaves are Water Hyacinth; the light green leaves are Water Lettuce. Quite a lot of both!

 

My best guess for this is Fall Dandelion or Autumn Hawkbit (Scorzoneroidea autumnalis). The flowers are atop long slender stems...

 

...while the basal leaves are narrowly cut.

 

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra).

 

Odd shaped flower, purportedly resembling a turtle's head emerging from its shell. The black spot...

 

...turns out to be a Digger Wasp (Family Crabronidae).

 

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

A cluster of Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema sp.) berries.

 

One of two domestic Geese at the little farmyard east of Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

A woolly Sheep there too.

 

A male Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)...

 

...and another one nearby.