May 11th. Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

 

 

 

 

 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

 

 

 

A short afternoon walk at Cranberry Bog. The Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are quite close to the trail but are little bothered by passers by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The East Hampton Garden Club had a weekend project to tidy up the far end of the pond. Unfortunately, the foreground of this photo represents the last place I know where Nodding Ladies'-tresses Orchids (Spiranthes cernua) survived... until now. Early in the year, maybe it made it.

 

Just one adult Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) at the nest. Never got a view of the chick.

 

Beak and all-seeing eye. Listen: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

 

May 12th. A male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa); remarkably, not spooked and flying away.

 

Listen: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/sounds

 

In contrast, the female Wood Duck and her ducklings scattered at top speed as I approached.

 

A female Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

 

Foliage tunnel as you apprach Old Colchester Road.

 

 

 

Two pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on the marsh today, squabbling over territory.

 

Both pairs soon flew off, honking, to continue the squabble elsewhere.

 

The first Pink Lady's-slipper Orchid (Cypripedium acaule) flower is nearly fully open.

 

The dorsal sepal and lateral petals need to expand and curl while the labellum turns a darker pink.

 

May 13th. The first Pink Lady's-slipper Orchid (Cypripedium acaule) flower is a day closer to fully open.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think I've ever noticed Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) in bloom. It stands out later as the red fruit develop and the leaves turn pink/red in Fall.

 

A nasty invasive, it goes by many names (some not repeatable): Wahoo, Winged Euonymus, etc.

 

Learn more about it here: https://www.invasive.org/alien/pubs/midatlantic/eual.htm

 

May 14th. A male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) displaying on the ground, not up high as usual.

 

Mourning Diove (Zenaida macroura).

 

Listen: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/sounds

 

A male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

 

Listen: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Baltimore_Oriole/sounds

 

May 15th. False Solomon's-seal (Smilacina racemosa) with the terminal flower buds and, below it, true Solomon's-seal (Polygonum biflorum) with the paired flowers dangling below the stem.

 

 

 

The only photo I could manage of the male Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) guarding the female on the nearby nest.

 

Pretty sure this is a Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus).

 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) seeds are mature.

 

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

 

Both Pink Lady's-slipper Orchid (Cypripedium acaule) flowers are fully "colored up" and open.

 

 

 

A brief walk to the pond east of Route 207.

 

At my feet as I took the previous photo, a cluster of Whirligig Beetles (Family Gyrinidae, Dineutus sp.).

 

So many fascinating features of these beetles: Their compound eyes are split - half above, half below the water surface - each adapted to their respective media.

 

They put out a bow wave as they swim which is reflected off objects such as prey on the surface; a kind of echo location.

 

They have a defensive chemical they can release from their butts that protercts them from predators.

 

Starflower (Trientalis borealis).

 

Green Frog (Ranas clamitans).