July 18th. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) feeding on mushrooms.

 

I'm guessing the mushrooms are Russula sp. based on the caps in the foreground.

 

Motion blur on this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) but lucky to get any shot give the foreground obstacles.

 

It didn't fly far, landing where I've seen it land before.

 

 

 

A magnificent Pandorus Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus).

 

Pat Stanulonis' hand gives a good idea of the moth's size.

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon at the pond east of River Road. Fragrant Water-lilies (Nymphaea odorara) are finally starting to bloom.

 

Three Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa), two males and a female; plus two Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta).

 

 

 

Further east, a single female Wood Duck where I'd seen a group of them a day or two ago.

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) just west of Old Hartford Road.

 

Skippers (Family Hesperididae) on the Sweet Peas, but not enough info to ID them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heading east across Old Hartford Road, I saw these little figures on the gate post. I've seen them elsewhere recently too. Jesus???

 

Furether east at the rock cut, lots of Ebony Jewelwing Damselflies (Calopteryx maculatum).

 

 

 

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

 

Awful picture of a Striped Hairstreak (Saturium liparops).

 

July 19th. The usual young Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

 

 

 

 

Two incredibly large Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) stretched out over the water.

 

 

 

 

 

The usual Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)...

 

...and the usual White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). No sign of the fawn but it could be hidden by the vegetation.

 

 

 

A male blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis).

 

An immature male Widow Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa).

 

July 20th. At the Route 85 parking area, a third instar caterpillar of an Ochre Dagger Moth (Acronicta morula) resting on a mat of silk preparing to molt.

 

Some creature had eaten parts of this Bolete. Not sure it liked it, given the discarded chips.

 

Yet again, The young Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). Rerasonably comfortable around humans.

 

Back at the parking lot, the caterpillar had shed. Note the old head capsule lower left, and abdominal skin upper right.

 

At the pond east of River Road, masses of Fragrant Water-lilies (Nymphaea odorata) blooming now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

A female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).

 

Three more Wood Ducks; an adult male in "eclipse" plumage and two young males.

 

 

 

 

 

Spotted Joe-pye-weed (Eupatorium maculatum) has started blooming.

 

Back to the Route 85 parking area two hours later, the 4th instar Ochre Dagger Moth caterpillar is about ready to move off in search of food.