September 6th. Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

 

 

Closed Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii).

 

Just a nice little fern.

 

Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa).

 

 

 

September 7th. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe).

 

 

 

Same spot, probably the same Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) as yesterday.

 

 

 

Probably a Common Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) but tough to be sure with only a ventral view.

 

Photo taken at full 1365mm telephoto of a bird far across the marsh.

 

Cropped, the bird is revealed to be female American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) based on face markings. (Thanks Russ, for the correction of my ID.)

 

The female Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) was back. Shortly before, I saw and heard another one flying west. A male perhaps?

 

 

 

Gotta respect that beak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon at Cranberry Bog. The resident Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)...

 

exhibiting gular flutter. Temp was cool, but humidity high.

 

 

 

At the pond east of River Road, a Great Blue Heron caught a fish!

 

It took off and flew to a more private spot to swallow the fish.

 

A Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) at far left, and seven young Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

September 9th. The female American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) was back. this time a little closer and not backlit.

 

(A lot of pictures following, but this was a special event for me. These photos were culled from over 50.)

 

 

 

Sometime during this early photo sequence, another Kestrel, perhaps two, flew over my head but did not land.

 

Note how from the side and back, the two eyes appear to be watching. In this photo, only one of the eyes is real.

 

The female flew off...

 

...but it soon returned.

 

 

 

 

 

I walked on, but on my way back...

 

...I spotted this male American Kestral. Very different coloration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was joined by the female on the lower branch.

 

She was pecking at her feet but at this distance I couldn't tell if she was eating something or grooming.

 

 

 

 

 

Another two-eyed side view with only one real eye.

 

 

 

Two eyes; neither one real.