July 17th. Fragrant Water-lily (Nymphaea odorata).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia).

 

The usual Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) out on the usual limb.

 

Two (of three) young male Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) on the south side of the trail.

 

Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritis sauritis).

 

The white bar ahead of the eye is a good field identification mark.

 

They blend in very well with the dry grass.

 

 

 

One of four Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) I saw this morning. All minding their own business.

 

The same snake.

 

This one shows more of the patterning found on most of these snakes.

 

July 19th. Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis).

 

A single young male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

Day-glo green paint marking have appeared all through the marsh. In some cases, they bracket spots where the bank is sunken.

 

 

 

In this case they simply highlight a beaver, turtle, and duck crossing.

 

 

 

In some cases, nothing obvious. I sure hope in the name of "progress", this BEST SPOT ON THE TRAIL is not going to be ruined by "improvements."

 

July 20th. Hazy sun on a coolish morning. The haze caused by far western wildfires. Sigh.

 

Spotted Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatorium maculatum).

 

A Snowy Urola moth (Urola nivalis), one of the Grass-Veneers (Subfamily Crambinae).

 

Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora).

 

Entwined.

 

Sawfly (Family Tenthredinidae) larvae on Grape (Vitus sp.).

 

Species is Waldheimia vitis. The transverse rows of black spines will become black lines in the final larval stage.

 

Only one Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) today.

 

The same Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritis sauritis) as seen recently in about the same spot.

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) atop a Wood Duck box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 21st. Fragrant Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata) and Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata).

 

A female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) hopping from lily pad to lily pad, picking bugs out of Bullhead-lily (Nuphar variegatum) flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis).

 

 

 

 

 

August 2nd. Back from 10 days in New Hampshire. Five young Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

A male.

 

A female.

 

One of each. A paradox?