September 22nd.  Sumac has begun to turn color on this first day of Fall.

 

 

 

Late morning at Cranberry Bog, East Hampton.  A few Sweet Peas remain in bloom.

 

Asters sparkle with dew.

 

 

 

Nodding Ladies' Tresses orchids (Spiranthes cernua) are bloming.

 

 

 

 

 

A Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) covered in Duckweed (Lemna minor).

 

 

 

September 23rd.  Grayville Falls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 24th.  Cloudy early, with a threat of rain.

 

 

 

A male and three female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late afternoon on the same day. Sunshine and white puffy clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) on the hunt.

 

One Catfish, seriously stabbed.

 

 

 

Off to a spot where the fish could be set down, stabbed some more...

 

...and oriented head first ready to go...

 

...down the hatch.  (Tail first and the fish's spiny fins would catch in the bird's throat.)  How herons can get off the ground with such a large fish in its belly, I'll never understand.

 

The first New England Asters are blooming at the Route 85 trail head.

 

 

 

September 25th.  West of Route 207.

 

 

 

Poison Ivy.

 

Fresh work on the beaver lodge near the pond exit...

 

...and fresh beaver-cut Birch nearby.

 

September 26th.  A cloudy afternoon, looking towards United Distillers from the main trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asters.

 

Sumac color is more developed.

 

Far across Raymond Brook Marsh.