May 10th. Several stops along the trail in Colchester and East Hampton. This is the highly invasive Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias). It has slender leaves below the inflorescence...

 

...which has oval, pink or yellow bracts below teeny simple flowers.

 

It's creeping out onto the trail...

 

...from a massive patch of it nearby. (This is where the trail reaches Route 149 next to the Route 2 bridge at Exit 16.)

 

Common or Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus).

 

 

 

Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius).

 

 

 

Underside of a Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon). The upper side is pale blue edged in black.

 

Common Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana).

 

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is fragrant, but highly invasive.

 

At Cranberry Bog, five of six goslings in one Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) family. (The other family was too far away for photos.)

 

 

 

Surely the same female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) I photographed on the same twig a few days ago.

 

Showing its version of the male's epaulettes.

 

In addition to calling, it swooped close to me - though I was at least 20 feet away. Presumably a nest nearby.

 

 

 

May 11th. Pink Azalea or Pinxter-flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum).

 

 

 

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon). First I've seen this year.

 

 

 

At least one Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium acaule) is coloring up. Note, this photo taken with a long telephoto setting. Most of the orchids are off trail and surrounded by poison ivy.

 

May 12th. A sunny morning despite dark clouds passing northwest of the trail. Never did rain.

 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).

 

 

 

Likely the same female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) that I photographed on the beaver dam two days ago.

 

 

 

A male Mallard about 100 yards west of the female, partly screened by fresh green vegetation.

 

May 13th. Same Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), different spot (atop the beaver dam).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Veery (Catharus fuscescens). Noisy long tele, high ISO, photos of it.

 

 

 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).

 

A short walk east from Route 207. English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) has narrow leaves.

 

 

 

Purple Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum).

 

 

 

Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) in the trailside ditches.

 

 

 

Within sight of Route 207, this tree cut about 3 feet above the ground remains dangerously hung up in another tree.

 

It needs to be safely cut down.

 

Perhaps 100 feet further east, the tree at the left is ready to take down the one nearer the trail.

 

For safety sake DEEP or Hebron Park & Rec needs to take down both of these trees.

 

May 14th. Pink Lady's Slipper Orchids (Cypripedium acaule) in full bloom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

 

About all of a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) that I could see through a screen of shrubs.

 

A pair of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) on a Wood Duck house.

 

May 15th. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).