October 24th. An afternoon walk east from Depot Hill Road in Cobalt. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense).

 

A few Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis) blossoms still around.

 

Bumble Bees (Family Bombidae) on the last blooms of Goldenrod (Solidago sp.). No idea what the teeny flies are.

 

Bumblebees on Asters too.

 

 

 

Headinmg east inmto the rock cut where I saw this...

 

...Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) warming up in the sun.

 

 

 

I was able to get very close.

 

A Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula sp.) on Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota).

 

 

 

A small Spider Wasp (Family Pompilidae, Ceropales maculata fraterna).

 

 

 

Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica unidecimpunctata).

 

As far east as I could go. Ahead, a stream runs along the old railroad bed and under Route 66.

 

I detoured back to Route 16 and drove east to a point where I could head west on the trail towards Route 66.

 

The tunnel that passes under Route 66.

 

Drainage ditches through the tunnel guide a small stream headed west.

 

Money has been allocated to connect the trail through here but I'm told it will be another two years before the work will take place.

 

The "plans" have already been in the works for years.

 

About 100 yards ahead through a swampy stream, the trail connects to the section I'd walked earlier from Depot Hill Road.

 

A brief stop at the pond east of River Road. Fall foliage is falling fast now. Many trees are bare.

 

The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) was swimming and...

 

...diving.

 

Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) were soaking up the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

October 26th. Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) heading southwest.

 

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) visiting before heading south. They should return February 15th, give or take a few days.

 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) - though note than many fail to migrate.

 

A yellow-berried, thorn-free Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.).

 

 

 

The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at the pond east of River Road.

 

Swimming and diving.

 

 

 

A male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) nearby...

 

 

 

..and he was joined by a female.

 

Looks like a female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) to me. But please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Back to that pond east or River Road in early afternoon. A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

 

 

I really like this picture.

 

Tree reflections on the water.

 

 

 

The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), perched this time.

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting pose.

 

 

 

 

 

Now that's a rarely timed photo, mid-poop. What are the odds of getting that shot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Load lightened, then it took off.