September 23rd. The first full day of Fall. 46 degrees and windy. Female Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon).

 

Crest halfway up.

 

 

 

 

 

Crest all the way up, just before it flew.

 

Yellow-orange Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria var. formosa). Cap not yet fully expanded.

 

A touch of bright Fall color on a tree across the channel.

 

Ha! It's not the tree but the Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) enveloping it.

 

One of two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) that arrived together, propelled by the wind.

 

 

 

Two hawks came zooming in on the wind as well. Best guess is young Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus). (Thanks Russ.)

 

Lousy pictures but lucky to get anything with my camera.

 

 

 

 

 

September 25th. Asters amid light green Multiflora Rose leaves.

 

Two Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) taking off past a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

 

 

September 27th. Cloudy and cool at the marsh.

 

A stop near the Blackledge River bridge near River Road. Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Goldenrod (Solidago.sp.)

 

 

 

Frost Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum).

 

 

 

 

 

Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium).

 

Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctatum) on Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

Did you notice the Crab Spider next to it?

 

Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris).

 

 

 

Next stop, the beaver pond on Day Meadow Brook at the River Road trail crossing. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

 

 

Surprised to see a Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 28th. The first Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) I've seen at the marsh since Spring.

 

A pair of immature Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa). Female ahead of red-eyed male.

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

Another nearby.

 

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus).

 

As it flew in a dozen or more ducks flew away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 29th. Frost Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) and Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans).

 

September 30th. More Fall color at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum).

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).