May 15th. A Crayfish on the trail surface, with Raymond Brook Marsh on both sides. The south side is nearly dried up, suggesting that the crayfish might have been searching for deeper water. Body length was roughly 4.5 inches.

 

My best ID guess is a White River Crayfish (Procambarus acutus), a native species common in Eastern Connecticut. (DEEP's Supervisor of the Fisheries Division, Mike Beauchene, confirmed my ID.)

 

See: https://ctdeep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=b9b8fa8441ac4ccab088db6c38ff0500

 

 

 

 

 

Limber Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica).

 

Hooked Buttercup (Ranunculus recurvatus).

 

 

 

May 16th. A male Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

 

Crossing the trail to a new perch, he was displaying for a female nearby that I hadn't noticed.

 

Takeoff for a short glide...

 

...towards the female I still hadn't seen.

 

More displaying.

 

 

 

 

 

I only saw the female briefly when she flew... and he followed her far across the marsh.

 

A male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). No sign of nest building yet.

 

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

 

Pink Azalea or Pinxter-flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum)...

 

...just beginning to bloom.

 

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).

 

A better picture of Limber Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica).

 

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) a nasty invasive that smells very sweet.

 

May 17th. The Pink Lady's-slipper Orchids (Cypripedium acaule) are in full bloom now.

 

Still a bit in morning shade.

 

A White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) far across the marsh in an area that would have held a foot or more of water a week or two ago.

 

 

 

The same orchids with the sun higher half an hour later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog. Male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) and two goslings.

 

Make that three goslings.

 

Um, four goslings.

 

 

 

 

 

Soaking wet.

 

 

 

I determined that there were two pair of Canada Geese. The partner of the goose with the goslings was far across the pond. This one was from a second pair that seemed very comfortable around people - and were without goslings. Probably the birds I saw a few days ago..

 

 

 

 

 

No problem coming up right beside me. Guessing someone has been feeding them.