July 24th. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) grooming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Teenaged" male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)...

 

...followed by a sister.

 

 

 

 

 

A really little Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

The heron has found another perch.

 

Buttonbush or Honey-balls (Cephalanthus occidentalis) with a male Flower Fly (Toxomerus sp.).

 

A male Ebony Jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata).

 

 

 

July 25th. Three young female Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). Among other things, the white eye "teardrop" distinguishes it from female Mallards.

 

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) on the hunt.

 

The ornamental double Day-lily (Hemorocalis fulva) somehow managed to miss the mowers blades. Only one plant at the marsh that has survived for quite a few years. No idea how it got there.

 

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) has just begun to bloom. Time to start looking for Evening Primrose Moths (Schinia florida) with their heads tucked deep in the flowers. They mate there and lay eggs that develop as caterpillars feeding on flower buds. See and read about them here: https://bugtracks.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/evening-primrose-moth/

 

July 26th. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) perched on a Wood Duck house.

 

An afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog. Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

 

 

 

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) in several colors...

 

...attract Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)...

 

 

 

...and a Skipper (Family Hesperiidae).

 

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).

 

Common Cattail (Typha latifolia).

 

Several male Blue Dasher dragonflies (Pachydiplax longipennis).

 

 

 

A "young" adult female Eastern Forktail damselfly (Ischnura verticalis). With age, adult females turn blue-grey.

 

July 28th. One of three Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) enduring a brief light sprinkle of rain.

 

August 2nd. Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed (Eupatorium maculatum).