September 18th. Norton's Pond east of River Road.

 

Colorfull red Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) amid yellow-berried invasive Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

 

A few dark green leaves at the top of whatever the vines are covering below.

 

A couple of Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) still around.

 

Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis).

 

 

 

 

 

Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae).

 

September 19th. A distant Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).

 

 

 

Another Red-shouldered Hawk.

 

 

 

 

 

Common Musk Turtle or "Stinkpot" (Sternothaerus odoratus).

 

Norton's Pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract quality to these twisted trunks and branches at the parking area.

 

 

 

September 20th. Two Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa). Female at left; male on the right.

 

A different male Wood Duck on a favorite perch.

 

 

 

Two Wood Ducks at Cranberry Bog.

 

Duck Weed (Lemna minor) is a favored and abundant food.

 

 

 

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta).

 

Make tht two. Red border on the turtle at the right is especially bright.

 

One of the Knapweeds. I think this is the rayed form of Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra).

 

A Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) has been captured by Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata pennsylvanica).

 

The bug's beak is imbedded in the bee's neck. It injects toxic saliva that paralyses its prey instantly.

 

A sheep at the farmyard east of Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

A male Snowy Tree Cricket (Oecanthus fultoni).

 

Two more Painted Turtles at Norton's Pond.

 

September 21st. The last full day of summer. A female Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An adult male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

Make that two adult males.

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

...and a young male Wood Duck.

 

Pollinators at Cranberry Bog. Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

Proboscis deep in a flower.

 

 

 

Loaded with pollen in hind leg "baskets".

 

Digger Wasp (Scolia dubia).

 

Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) I think.

 

New York American Aster (Symphylotrichum novi-belgii), I think.