August 20th. Appalachian Brown (Satyrodes appalachia).

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) where a trapper breached the beaver dam several years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twenty minutes later, the heron had barely moved three feet.

 

Fragrant Water-lilies (Nymphaea odorata).

 

A Bumble Bee (Family Bombidae) was gathering pollen from them.

 

After heavy rain yesterday, this morning was partly sunny. Later it clouded over, threatening more rain.

 

A pair of Green Herons (Butorides virescens) far across the marsh on the southeast side.

 

 

 

Four young Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) at their usual morning spot. From left to right, 2 females, 2 males.

 

 

 

Female.

 

Female.

 

Male.

 

Male.

 

A cute little Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta). Maybe three inches long?

 

August 21st. Thick "humidifog" over the marsh today. Hurricane Henri arriving tomorrow.

 

 

 

August 23rd. Spared from Hurricane Henri. It was a tropical storm by the time it reached the marsh yesterday. Windy and a LOT of rain. The storm went west, but came back east several hours after this photo was taken, dropping more rain but not windy. Water very high.

 

August 24th. A large dead tree fell across the trail, apparently during yesterday's heavy rain. (It was down by 7:00 this morning.)

 

Comparing results with my camera (first pic) and new Samsung S21 cell phone (this pic).

 

(Phone.)

 

(Camera.)

 

(Phone.)

 

August 26th. At the Route 207 crossing, Chicory (Cichorium intybus) and Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artimissifolia).

 

Just opening, the Chicory stamens weren't quite ready to offer pollen.

 

Hedge Bindweed (Convolvulus sepium).

 

Common Evening-primrose (Oenothera biennis).

 

Hops (Humulus lupulus) are draped over the boulder at the trailhead.

 

"Hops" refer to the cone-shaped female flowers used in making beer.

 

August 27th. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) spooked by my approach.

 

The same bird in the same spot as on August 20th, at the top of this page.

 

It didn't go far after I spooked it today.

 

 

 

August 28th. Something special here.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

 

 

(I really like my camera's zoom lens.)

 

August 29th. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in a different spot today...

 

...but still hardly visible from the trail.

 

Bracket Fungi (Family Polyporaceae) on a dead Birch (Betula sp.).

 

Above, a Birch Polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) is expanding.

 

Sumac (Rhus sp.) has begun turning color.

 

Fragrant Water-lily (Nymphaea odorata).

 

Back at the Route 85 trailhead, a Deer Fly (Chrysops sp.) perched on my truck mirror.

 

Patterned eyes and piercing laping beak.