July 4th. Harlequin or Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis), an invasive species that has displaced many native species. The story is complicated and despressing. See the "Worlwide Propagation" section here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis

 

Many of the Black Raspberries (Rubus sp.) are ripe.

 

Ebony Jewerwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculatum) perched on Poison Ivy.

 

A Long-legged Fly (Family Dolichopodidae).

 

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix).

 

Its minute flowers attended by a Bumble Bee.

 

A young Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

 

 

Pretty tolerant of me being close.

 

A pretty orange (versus the more common yellow) Canada Lily (Lilium canadensis). Everything still wet from last night's heavy rain.

 

Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) also wet with rain.

 

One of two double Day Lily (Hemerocalis fulva) plants, a garden escapee.

 

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Almost done blooming.

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The first of two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodius) I saw today. This one at the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and this one at the small marsh near the Colchester Spur junction.

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July 5th. A female Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) at Cranberry Bog.

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The old train station in downtown East Hampton. The gardens are pretty grown over...

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...but some fun things remain.

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Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

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Red Raspberries (Rubus sp.) ... or possibly unripe Black Raspberries.

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Crown-vetch (Securigera varia).

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July 6th. Green Heron (Butorides virescens) at Raymond Brook Marsh.
A few pictures here, but many more in a FlickR Album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanmalcolm/albums/72177720327348746/

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Old hat Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

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Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix).

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Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora).

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July 14th. Back after a week at our Mountain Lakes New Hampshire cottage. A highlight was finding this dead Luna Moth (Actias luna) beside the road.

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A mated pair of Common Willow Calligrapha beetles (Calligrapha multipunctata) were pretty cool looking.

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I took too many pictures of this Common Loon (Gavia immer) and published them as a FlickR Album.
Have a look: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanmalcolm/albums/72177720327514951

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Back on the trail at Raymond Brook Marsh this morning. Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon).

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The double Day Lilies (Hemerocalis fulva) were in great shape. I hope they won't be mowed.

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A Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) family crossed the trail.

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Male and female.

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Back past the Northern Water Snake ten minutes later, it had only moved its head a little bit.