May 3rd. Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) will be harder to spot as foliage fills out.
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A Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus).
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Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) at their favorite nest tree.
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Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).
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Male Common Yellowthroat warbler (Geothlypis trichas).
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Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).
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Back out for an afternoon walk. Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
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Ants were all over many of the flowers.
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Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) were soaking up the warmth of trailside rocks. Note the Poison Ivy nearby.
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The snakes don't climb trees, but Poison Ivy (Toxicodendrom radicans) sure does.
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First of the Cherry (Prunus sp.) seedlings in bloom.
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Red Maple (Acer rubrum) "polynoses".
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Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum).
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A pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).
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The bent feather was probably the result of a territorial fight. They're feeding on the abundant Hummock Sedge (Carex stricta) flowers.
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Goose food, close up. Carex stricta
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Lots of Bellwort (Uvularia sp.) in bloom.
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Male March Flies (Family Bibionidae; Bibio sp.) are pollinators.
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Pink Lady's-slipper Orchids (Cypripedium acaule) are beginning to unfurl. Blossoms come later in May through early June.
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Lots of Violets (Viola sp.) at this time of year.
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United Distiller's chimney.
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Two Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) wre exhibiting some interesting behavior. They'd fly from a nearby perch...
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...and splash in the water...
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...then return to their perches and groom.
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I saw no evidence of them feeding so perhaps they were just bathing.
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Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) were feeding in flocks, oblivious to passers-by.
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May 4th. Lots of Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) in pairs. When they nest, I'll see them only one at a time.
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May 5th. Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) are pairing up. Here's the male...
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...and nearby was the female.
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May 6th. A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) about to land.
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Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) are abundant this year.
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Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) near an active nest.
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May 7th. Another (or the same?) Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) as first spotted on May 3rd.
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A flash of color at the Rt 85 trail head led me to this male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).
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May 8th. A male Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) posed for the camera.
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Who, me?
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A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) with a beak full of nesting material.
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