October 30th, early afternoon. Lots of oak leaves down after lots of rain.

 

 

 

An immature Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) with thanks once again to Russ Smiley for the ID.

 

 

 

Several male Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) around.

 

Peek-a-boo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invasive Burning Bush or Winged Euonymous (Euonymous alatus).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 31st. Late afternoon at the little pond east of River Road. Nifty clouds.

 

 

 

November 1st. Twelve of more than 20 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) that spent the night at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankfully, geese stay mostly to the south side of the trail where Town of Hebron open space designation protects them from hunting. On the north side in the DEEP Wildlife Management area, goose hunting season is Nov 10th to Jan 12th. (Duck season is Nov 10th to Jan 10th.)

 

November 2nd. First frost of Fall at 26 degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata).

 

 

 

 

 

A small fuzzy Woolly Oak Gall made by the larva of a Cynipid wasp (Callirhytis lantana).

 

Compare to the similar photo above, taken on October 30th.

 

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in the foreground.

 

 

 

 

 

November 3rd. Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) still calling.

 

A particularly vibrant Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)...

 

 

 

...and a more typical dark one.

 

Two Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)...

 

...of six that soon flew away.

 

A pair of backlit feeding Malards (Anas playtrhynchos).

 

More frost this morning at 26 degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

November 4th. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis).

 

Sun through high haze shortly after dawn.

 

The Ghost Run 2023. Photos of most of the runners here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanmalcolm/albums/72177720312429325