May 25th. A brief evening stop at Cranberry Bog. The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) family was around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Goose family emerged from the far end of the pond; maybe the other goose nest was successful after all.

 

Across the trail from the pond, there was a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) "family", though impossible to count, much less photograph the ducklings through all the vegetation.

 

Family in quotes because there were two females and one male - and fights between the females.

 

 

 

May 26th. Larger Blue Flag iris (Iris versicolor) have started blooming.

 

The first of two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodius) this morning.

 

The other one.

 

An afternoon walk east from Old Hartford Road. Vast numbers of Wild Geraniums (Geranium maculatum).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best guess is a small Cuckoo Wasp (Family Chrysididae).

 

Best guess is a Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok).

 

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus), likely feeding on the Red Maple (Acer rubrum) seeds on the ground around it.

 

Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium sp.). Not a grass at all but in the Iris family (Iridaceae).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Far more blossoms open than on the one I photographed yesterday, I think this too is the alien Hawkweed, King Devil (Hieracium pratense).

 

Swamp or Bog Beacon fungus (Mitrula paludosa) in a wet trailside ditch recycling leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

A few Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) still blooming.

 

 

 

Pink Lady's-slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) still blooming just east of the Judd Brook bridge.

 

Fewer than in previous years though as the vegetation around them grows taller and denser.

 

May 27th. Memorial Day. Please pause for a moment to remember those who gave their lives in service of our democracy.

 

These ornamental Iris are at the Route 85 trailhead in Amston.

 

 

 

Pink Lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule) still looking pretty if a bit dusty.

 

Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) has flowers on a separate stalk from the leaves.

 

 

 

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago).

 

 

 

Wow. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) in over-the-top display mode! I wonder what he's thinking.

 

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) hustling across the trail. Looks like he's missing a bit of tail.

 

 

 

The male Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) hanging out not far from the wood duck box where the female is likely incubating eggs.

 

 

 

A couple of Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) sauntering down the trail.