May 19th. The Pink Azalea or Pinxter-flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum) is fully in bloom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza claytoni).

 

 

 

Pink Lady's-slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule).

 

 

 

A female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater).

 

A pair of Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 20th. Water level very low.

 

The usual Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Male above; female at left.

 

The female in the doorway.

 

Robin Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) has just started blooming.

 

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

 

 

 

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) will be flowering soon.

 

White Clover (Trifolium repens). Lots of smaller, inconspicuous plants starting to bloom.

 

Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex).

 

Yarrow (Achillia millifolium) is in bud.

 

Bastard-toadflax (Comandra umbellata).

 

Thanks to UConn's Dr. Sarah Taylor, I learned that this was a sedge, probably Gray's or Common Bur Sedge (Carex grayi).

 

Again, thanks to UConn's Sarah Taylor, I know this is invasive Narrowleaf Bittercress (Cardamine impatiens). Read about it here: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/cardamine/impatiens/

 

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus).

 

May 21st. First ornamental Iris blooming at the Route 85 trailhead.

 

 

 

 

 

The Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) adding a white feather to their nest. Berndt Heinrich titled one of his books "White Feathers: The Nesting Lives of Tree Swallows." Highly recommended: https://www.amazon.com/White-Feathers-Nesting-Lives-Swallows/dp/1328604411

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A male Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).

 

 

 

 

 

Swallows back to their usual duties.

 

 

 

The wood duck house by the Colchester Spur turnoff is definitely occupied by swallows now.

 

A full chorus of Green Frogs (Rana clamitans), plus Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) like this one.

 

Another male Bull Frog.

 

A closer look.

 

Identify which frogs are calling here: https://musicofnature.com/calls-of-frogs-and-toads-of-the-northeast/

 

At Cranberry Bog, the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) goslings are under the watchful eye of Mom.

 

Most of the geese were visiting the nextdoor neighbor who was putting out food for them.

 

 

 

Ah, there were a pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) with the goslings.

 

Mom heeded the "free eats" call and they all headed towards the neighbor's driveway...

 

...including the Mallards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 22nd. The False Solomon's-seal (Smilacina racemosa) is in full bloom now.

 

 

 

At the marsh, the Tree Swallow pair were off the nest, perched in the Common Reeds (Phragmites australis) nearby.

 

 

 

At the pond east of Route 207, the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) on the nest...

 

...while another basks in the sun not far away.