May 13th.  The Barred Owl (Strix varia) was perched not far east of Old Colchester Road again.

 

Several male Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) around, and I thought I saw one chasing Red-winged Blackbird and an Orchard Oriole male.

 

 

 

Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum pubescens).

 

An afternoon walk west from Grayville Road to Judd Brook.  Common or Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides).

 

 

 

 

 

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea).

 

 

 

Various Violets (Viola sp.) in bloom.

 

 

 

Pussytoes (Antennaria sp.).

 

Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea).

 

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea).

 

Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), an invasive shrub.

 

Lady's-slipper orchids (Cyprepedium acaule) are near to flowering just east of Judd Brook.

 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinialis) seed head.

 

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis), perhaps the easiest of our ferns to identify.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bark Beetle larval borings in an old downed tree.

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Tent Caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum) are growing fast; now roughly 2.5 cm long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillars have just hatched.  Look for them atop the tan egg masses (embedded with hairs from the females' body) deposited on tree trunks and limbs.

 

 

 

May 14th.  A Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) checked out several trees and moved on, not bothering to probe for beetle larvae.

 

The red "mustache" confirms that it's a male.

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) taking a break.

 

Lots of Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) flitting around, singing.

 

 

 

 

 

The Barred Owl (Strix varia) was out again, near his usual spot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) with a single new gosling.

 

Proud parents.