October 12th. The RHAM boys soccer team out for a team-building bike ride.

 

More photos of the event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanmalcolm/albums/72177720321144103

 

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe).

 

 

 

Later in the day, two Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) again at the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta).

 

October 13th. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) circling above the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

 

 

A short walk east from Old Amston Road in Colchester.

 

 

 

The last of the Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris), long past good condition.

 

Note the insect abdomen sticking out of the flower.

 

Ah, it's a Halictid Sweat Bee (Family Halictidae).

 

 

 

October 15th. The parking area along Route 85.

 

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) feeding on abundant acorns.

 

Light frost this morning. Heavier frost expected in the next few days.

 

 

 

At the pond east of River Road...

 

 

 

...this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) took off and flew a banking loop around the pond, let loose an enormous load of guano over the reeds...

 

...and landed not from where it started. Trying to avoid contaminating where it was feeding I suppose.

 

A few other waterfowl around including this male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)...

 

...a few Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)...

 

...and a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).

 

October 15th. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at Cranberry Bog. Interesting: this one is banded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bet you can't not smile.

 

 

 

October 16th. Back to Cranberry Bog and more Mallards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 17th. Heavier frost at the marsh this morning.

 

 

 

October 18th. Frost at Raymond Brook Marsh, but no killing frost so far.

 

Speaking of killing, a duck hunter and his young son were out in a kayak. I heard one shot... a couple of minutes before a young woman with a baby in a stroller passed by. It is my firm believe that hunting is incompatible with proximity to the trail and trail users, the vast majority enjoying this linear State Park and its natural resources while walking, running, cycling, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

A brief afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog. One of the Smartweeds (Polygonum sp.) still blooming.

 

A male Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum vicinum).

 

He darted out and returned with a fly - probably a Blow Fly (Family Calliphoridae).

 

The rusty brown thorax and rust orange stigmas at the wing tips are definitive for this species.