May 17th. An afternoon walk at Raymond Brook Marsh as storm clouds moved in. Limber Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica).

 

 

 

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).

 

 

 

Common or Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus).

 

Yellow Pond or Bullhead-lily (Nuphar vareigatum).

 

Many of these were damaged by the recent low water.

 

This flower and nearby pads show damage.

 

Oak (Quercus sp.) leaves expanding.

 

 

 

 

 

A young Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). Roughly 10 inches long and thick as a pencil.

 

 

 

A gentle poke in the tail and it wriggled off the trail to safety.

 

Dramatic clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casting dark shadows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rain reaching the ground at the horizon. I saw a lightning bolt strike the ground but it was miles away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 18th. I released two Cecropia Moths (Hyalophora cecropia) that had eclosed the day before at home.

 

These moths are second generation descendants of caterpillars found at the marsh. Coming "home".

 

 

 

May 19th. At Cranberry Bog, lots of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) but no sign of where the goslings may have gone.

 

 

 

 

 

They feed on Duckweed (Lemna minor).

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)...

 

...with a damaged neck; it's tongue protruding through a hole. Didn't seem bothered by it.

 

First confirmed Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) chick.

 

Hot. Panting I think.

 

 

 

Maple leaves (Acer sp.).