June 15th. An Orb-weaver Spider (Best guess Leucauge venusta).

 

 

 

 

 

Green Lacewing (Chrysopa sp.).

 

An enormous Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Nostril and eye above the surface at left.

 

June 16th. A slightly better picture of yesterday's Orb-weaver spider. Interesting hair combs on the hind legs.

 

Butter-and-eggs or Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) has just started blooming.

 

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis).

 

American Hazelnut (Corylus americana). Nuts starting to form.

 

Queen Anne's Lace or Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) just starting to bloom.

 

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is blooming now.

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like a Carpenter Ant (Camponotus sp.).

 

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium). That's a Long-horned Beetle (Family Cerambycidae) behind the flowers on the left.

 

A Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) on its nest. Thanks to Jill Macaulay for pointing it out.

 

June 17th. An Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus), a close relative of the Common Garter Snake (T. sirtalis). The Eastern Ribbon Snake has more well defined stripes.

 

 

 

A second Eastern Ribbon Snake a few feet away. Of course they're harmless and will slither away if you get close.

 

More dangerous is the lush growth of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) under and behind the benches along the trail. This bench is at Raymond Brook Marsh, but look for it under other benches and all along the trail for that matter.

 

Whorled Loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia) by the little pond east of River Road.

 

It gets its name from the way circle of leaves and flowers emanate from the stem at the same point.

 

 

 

First Deer Fly (Chrysops sp.) of the year held between my thumb and forefinger (in case there was any doubt).

 

Common Cattail (Typha latifolia) in bloom.

 

The usual Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

Ought to be a Common Musk Turtle (Sternothaerus odoratus) but missing the yellow stripes on its head.

 

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) feeding on dried clover blossoms.

 

A Sparrow. Maybe a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia).

 

A family of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Looks liuke a young male at the right.

 

 

 

Two White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) far across the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An ornamental Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) near the train mural.

 

 

 

 

 

A brief stop at Cranberry Bog where Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are blooming.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure this is a Canada Thistle Bud Weevil (Larinus planus) on Great Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa).

 

June 19th. Ox-eye Daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare).

 

A male syrphid Flower Fly (Eristalis dimidiata).

 

The resident Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius). Very little water in the marsh and we're in a heat wave with no rain is sight.

 

 

 

A short afternoon walk east of Route 207. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) taking a dust bath or perhaps "anting" - when a bird spreads itself wide on the fround encouraging ants to climb on and remove lice.

 

An Inchworm (Family Geometridae) pretending to be a twig, though not in the right spot to do it.

 

June 20th. Spring ends midday. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) at the pond by the Colchester Spur junction.

 

The bird is exhibiting gular flutter, a rapid open mouthed vibration of the throat skin that helps with cooling...

 

...on hot, humid days like this.
Here's a video that shows what it looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm-S4XioabA