June 27th. Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus).

 

Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) flower clusters as good as they get.

 

 

 

 

 

Now that a berry is full ripe, I realize what I was calling Wild Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is actually Wild Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis).

 

 

 

"Velcro" covered stick-tight seeds of Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea quadrisulcata)...

 

...has these delicate flowers...

 

...and large leaves on the stem.

 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) "hawking" from atop a wood duck house.

 

American Hazrlnut (Corylus americana).

 

 

 

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon).

 

 

 

Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria).

 

 

 

Any guesses?

 

It's Wild Lettuce (Lactuca sp.).

 

Hop Clover (Trifolium agrarium).

 

 

 

June 28th. Two recently fledged Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) appearing to be "schooled" by the adult at the right. The young birds' attention seems to wander.

 

 

 

 

 

This is invasive Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).  I'm seeing it seemingly everywhere along the trail all of a sudden.  And in our yard.  The only goodish news?  It seems to be displacing the equally obnoxious Garlic Mustard.

 

June 29th. A brief stop at the Route 207 crossing. Sunshine on Chicory (Cichorium intybus) just opening for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

Shade changes its appearance, but not its beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A female Flower Fly (Family Syrphidae, Toxomerus geminatus).

 

Hedge Bindweed (Convolvulus sepium).

 

A Peppergrass (Lepidium sp.).

 

The Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) trees are in full bloom. The scent is overwhelming.

 

Male flower clusters consist mostly of bare stamens.

 

Female flowers are much less conspicuous.

 

Blue Toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis).

 

 

 

Back to the Chicory. A common metallic Sweat Bee (Family Halictidae, Agapostemon virescens).

 

Chicory flowers are quickly stripped of their pollen. The flowers will soon fade and shrivel in the afternoon sun, to be replaced by new flowers the next morning.

 

Another Flower Fly (Epistrophe grossulariae).

 

Hairs on the sides of the thorax and abdomen distinguish it from similar species.

 

Late afternoon at Cranberry Bog. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) with its tongue protruding from its throat is back, still doing okay it seems. (I hadn't seen it in several weeks.) Looks like it may have some wingtip damage too.

 

Six of roughly 20 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

 

"White" on younger birds' heads is still a bit grey.

 

One of two domestic geese at the farmyard to the east.

 

Sheep were in the shed with an electric fan to keep them comfortable at 90+ degrees.