May 13th. Pink Lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule) almost fully colored-up.

 

Three more deeper pink.

 

The round yellow ball is a pollinium. The flower has two and attaches them to bees exiting from the pouch.

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) is just starting to bloom.

 

Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) I think.

 

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is coming along.

 

False Solomon's-seal (Smilacina racemosa) in bud.

 

A male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).

 

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Male atop the box. Female at the entrance.)

 

Male at the entrance.

 

Female at the entrance.

 

Two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodius).

 

The bird at the left in the picture above.

 

On the hunt...

 

 

 

 

 

False alarm.

 

A common Slug (Arion subfuscus).

 

An afternoon visit to Cranberry Bog. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) with the bobbed tongue sticking out through its neck.

 

The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) family well shielded by grass at the little pond west of Smith Street.

 

I can't get over how quickly they've grown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 24th. The usual activity at the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nest.

 

First flowers of the Pink Azalea or Pinxter-flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum) have opened.

 

A Hawthorne (Crataegus sp.) I think.

 

 

 

 

 

A Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus). Warbling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bumble Bee (Family Bombidae).

 

May 15th. Overcast and spitting rain. The usual non-breeding Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) at Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

 

 

Momma goose and her 7 goslings are back from the little pond west of Smith Street. Dad was nearby.

 

The other Momma goose is still incubating eggs.

 

A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) approaching the bank where various geese were handing out.

 

 

 

Loud quacking completely ignored by the geese. On shore and quiet, the geese continued to ignore the duck.

 

May 16th. The exit stream from the pond east of Route 207 was roaring after last night's rain.

 

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) on the nest above the beaver lodge.