October 15th. Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) passing through the marsh on their way south.

 

After they're gone, we won't hear them again at the marsh until February 14th, give or take a week or two.

 

The duck hunter was out again on the north side which is designated as a DEEP Wildlife Management Area. An early walker coming in from Route 85 reported hearing shots and then pellets falling through the trees at his right. No danger, but not pleasant for trail users out to enjoy a walk in nature along a Connecticut Linear State Park trail. Hunting is not allowed on the trail or the embankment; hunters must be in the marsh in waders or kayaks. Still, I've had hunters shooting "legally" from within about 20 feet of me in years past. Because of vegetation on the embankments, I couldn't see them and they couldn't see me.

 

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) on the south side further west. Thankfully, that's Hebron Open Space and hunting is not allowed.

 

 

 

 

 

An afternoon visit to Cobalt. No Spotted Lanternfly adults or egg masses found. Various wildflowers hanging on, including this Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota).

 

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense).

 

Bumble Bees (Family Bombidae) on various flowers like these Asters...

 

 

 

...and Goldenrod (Solidago sp.).

 

 

 

Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis).

 

 

 

While most of the Thistles (Centaurea sp.) were gone to seed, there were a couple of blossoms still open.

 

Bumble Bees on them too.

 

 

 

 

 

A quick stop at Old Colchester Road. They've started placing some of the drain system elements.

 

Lots more materials delivered including gravel and trap rock.

 

October 17th. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at the marsh again.

 

Sorry for the visual "noise" in today's photos. A deeply cloudy morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have been hearing a Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) lately and finally got a couple of pictures.

 

 

 

Cranberry Bog looking nice this morning...

 

...and loaded with Mallards.

 

 

 

Nine Mallards in this picture, but there were more around.

 

 

 

October 18th. Twenty-seven degrees and frosty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mist rising from water warmer than the air.

 

 

 

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the mist.

 

 

 

Cyclists spooked three deer on the trail down towards Old Colchester Road.

 

Two bolted to the left while one kept to the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

Just after I took this picture, the deer finally escaped to the left.

 

Apparently, some work was done on Saturday. More cement structures hooked up at the left back corner.