August 29th. Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar (Euchaetes egle).

 

 

 

There were three defoliating the last Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) plant I know of on the trail.

 

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) at the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

The three-petaled flowers at the left are of Grass-leaved Arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea).

 

August 30th. Young Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa). Three with red eyes are males.

 

Mist rising after yesterday's rain.

 

Dew on spiderwebs.

 

 

 

 

 

Great Egret (Ardea alba)...

 

...hunting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) at the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just one Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) today.

 

Back to the Sandpiper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 31st. The usual Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

Not to mention the same Great Egret (Ardea alba) in the same spot as yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum).

 

 

 

 

 

One of several female Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) far out on the south side of the marsh.

 

Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons). I see these exploring upper leaf surfaces lately. I wonder what they're up to.

 

On my walk back, the Great Egret hadn't moved far.

 

 

 

 

 

By the way, the bird is hanging out amid Swamp Smartweed (Polygonum coccineum).