October 31st. Halloween. A midday walk east from Cook Hill Road. No animals around at the farm, not even pigeons.

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of Winterberry (Ilex verticillata).

 

 

 

A male Sulphur butterfly, perhaps a hybrid between a Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) and an Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My turnaround point, under the powerlines.

 

One of two steers I saw by the marsh exit stream.

 

Then I saw 6 goats in an enclosure near the barns.

 

 

 

 

 

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November 1st. Early afternoon. A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) at the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

The usual Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus).

 

 

 

Check out those feet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Gular flutter", a behavior equivalent to panting which helps cool the bird.

 

At Raymond Brook Marsh, an Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum vicinum).

 

Two Connecticut Air National Guard C-130 transports flew low over the marsh. They're based at Bradley Airport.

 

November 2nd. Three of probably 20 or more Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

Thirteen Cedar Waxwings ((Bombycilla cedrorum).

 

 

 

The Ghost Run was this morning. For pictures of all the runners, see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanmalcolm/albums/72177720321659750

 

November 3rd. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). The reddish tail is definitive.

 

 

 

 

 

Trees are pretty much bare at the pond east of River Road.

 

Ripply reflections in a light breeze.

 

 

 

 

 

November 4th. 27 degrees. Four of the 30 or so Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at Raymond brook Marsh.

 

An immature Sharp-shined Hawk (Accipiter striatus).

 

 

 

 

 

November 5th. One of a small flock of Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) at the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

 

 

An afternoon visit to Grayville Falls, thinking it might be dry given our extended drought. Not as bad as I expected.

 

 

 

 

 

November 5th. I count roughly 55 Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in this photo taken on the safe (no hunting) side of the trail.