November 1st. Back on the trail after a few days closing the New Hampshire cottage.

 

Can you guess the location? It's not one of my usual spots. (Answer on next picture.)

 

I was at the bench near the mural just west of the Route 85 trail head.

 

November 2nd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) at Cranberry Bog, late afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

November 3rd. A foggy 29 degrees.

 

Lots of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) along with Mallards (not photographed).

 

First significant frost at the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) with a breakfast mushroom (Russula sp. I think).

 

 

 

 

 

November 4th. 28 degrees and frost on everything. First three photos are of Multiflora Roses (Rosa multiflora).

 

 

 

 

 

Barberry (Berberus sp).

 

November 6th. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), an invasive.

 

I took a short walk on the spur, turning back towards the main trail near the old distillery.

 

The cement platform at the right once supported a large tank that held grain alcohol delivered in tank car loads by the railroad.

 

Across a small pond you can see the skeleton of the building that once held barrels of spirits in bond, prior to bottling.

 

The administration offices and more were in this renovated building.
Before renovation, the property looked like this: https://www.performance-vision.com/airline/airline-smokestack2.htm

 

At the junction with the main trail, looking west.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 24 degrees, lots of frost to photograph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something missing here. Sadly, the tall dead tree in the marsh that was the resting spot for Tree Swallows and other birds has fallen.

 

 

 

 

 

There are a half dozen or so Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) hanging around.

 

I saw a small flock of American Robins (Turdus migratorius).

 

I was being watched...

 

...and my presence was not approved.

 

 

 

A female Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus).

 

Why red-bellied? Ask a birder.

 

 

 

Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are very busy.

 

This one appears to be a lactating female. Hope she's able to get her young through the winter.

 

 

 

On Route 85 near Hebron Elementary School, the Ghost Run began promptly at 9A.M.

 

At the 2 mile marker, they'll be on the Air Line Trail until they reach East Hampton and the conclusion of the half-marathon. A really cold day for it.