April 28th. Crabapple (Malus sylvestris) is in bud.

 

 

 

Nice to see normal water levels at the marsh compared to last year's severe drought.

 

More pictures of Water Lily Planthoppers (Megamelus davisi) on recently emerged Bullhead-lily (Nuphar vareigatum) pads.

 

Thanks to UConn's Dr. Katrina Menard, I now know more about this planthopper's life cycle.

 

Nearly mature nymphs overwinter in leaf litter, then move out to the lily pads as they surface in the spring.

 

Full abstract of a scientific study here: https://academic.oup.com/aesa/article-abstract/74/4/345/9706?redirectedFrom=fulltext

 

 

 

Midday, I visited a few other sites along the trail, starting with the Colchester Spur where I saw this male Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas).

 

In fact, there were two males interacting.

 

 

 

 

 

I stopped briefly at the pond along River Road. The pond is a beaver expansion of Day Meadow Brook.
Far across the pond, I spotted this Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

 

 

 

Scouring Rush (Equisetum hyemale), descendant of ancient pioneer land plants.

 

I also walked in from River Road to the Blackledge River Bridge which carries the Air Line Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia).

 

 

 

When I first saw burrows in the sand of the trail several weeks ago, I guessed that they were made by Bee Wolves, a kind of wasp. Today, the owners showed up and turned out to be Cellophane Bees (Family Colletidae, Colletes inaequalis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A diurnal Bluish Spring Moth (Lomographa semiclarata).

 

I found lots of Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum) near ther Blackledge River.

 

The leaves are distinctive. A good thing as the flowers soon fade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 29th. A pair of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) hanging out atop a Wood Duck nest box.

 

I've see this behavior before. Just a convenient perch or are they nesting in it?

 

The male.

 

The female.

 

April 30th. A pretty morning, but dark clouds and showers would come a bit later.

 

 

 

Water levels have dropped a full foot since yesterday. Something bad happening like last year?

 

Red Trilliums (Trillium erectum) just west of Route 207.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 1st. Water levels have dropped another 10 inches since yesterday. This is bad news.

 

Pond-lily pads are inches away from the bottom.

 

Elsewhere, the bottom is already exposed.

 

 

 

A late morning stop at Cranberry Bog. Crabapple (Malus sylvestris) in bloom.

 

 

 

 

 

Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias).

 

Momma Canadian Goose (Branta canadensis) curious about this guy watching.

 

Hmm, an extra lump in the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) nest.

 

Ah, both parents in residence.

 

 

 

 

 

Nap time for the domestic geese at the little farmyard east of Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

 

 

Another check at the goose nest before I left.

 

Another curious look.