August 3rd. Three of the five Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) that were at this spot yesterday. All young males.

 

Lots of Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) blooming now.

 

A few minutes later and the ducks hadn't moved much.

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) lined up.

 

Later in the day, eight Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) at Cranberry Bog. (Yes, there are eight.)

 

In the previous picture, one had its head down.

 

A little later, the eight had joined four more.

 

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata).

 

 

 

Spotted Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatorium maculatum) in bud.

 

Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) on Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed in bloom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus).

 

 

 

 

 

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa).

 

 

 

Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

 

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

 

The pollen on the bee's back is not from the Milkweed which offers its pollen in aggregates called pollinia.

 

Honey Bees were also working the Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed.

 

 

 

Tiger Bee Fly (Family Bombyliidae, Xenox tigrinus). They parasitize large Carpenter Bees.

 

August 5th. A near adult male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) and a duckling - I think maybe a Mallard, but hard for me to tell at this age.

 

 

 

New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis).

 

August 6th. The marsh in foggy, foggy dew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A young female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).

 

..and a young male across the trail from the female.

 

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

 

Two Net-winged Beetles (Family Lycidae, Caenia dimidiata).

 

Crazy antennae.

 

Showy Tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)...

 

...has developed its distinctive seeds which stick to anything they touch.

 

Dew is stuck to all the Velcro-like hooked hairs on them.

 

Common Evening-Primrose (Oenothera biennis).

 

 

 

 

 

Summersweet or Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia).

 

Great fragrance.

 

New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis).

 

Immature fruits of Carrion-flower (Smilax herbacea). When ripe, the fruits are black.

 

Grape (Vitis sp.) tendril.

 

 

 

Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis).

 

A young Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

Nice colors on an Oak seedling.
WARNING: The rest of this page is all Northern Water Snakes. Feel free to skip.

 

The first of many Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) out this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Different angle, I saw a second snake head (upper right).

 

 

 

Three snakes in this picture.

 

Here are two of them.

 

Easier to see from a different angle.

 

This one is preparing to shed. Note the blue eye where the skin has started to loosen up.