October 11th.

 

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

 

 

 

A young female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

Just one Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) today...

 

...though it moved to a different spot.

 

 

 

 

 

Um?

 

 

 

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).The broad banded tail with a rounded white tip is a key ID feature.

 

 

 

October 12th. A short afternoon walk on the Colchester Spur during a break in today's showers.

 

 

 

 

 

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus), an invasive shrub.

 

 

 

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix).

 

 

 

To whom it may apply.

 

 

 

 

 

October 14th. A flock of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) quickly moved through the marsh.

 

October 15th. Ground fog everywhere at 38 degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

A short afternoon walk centered on the Brownstone Bridge over River Road. Looking for things most people wouldn't notice. Pretty sure this is a Gem-studded Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum).

 

 

 

Reindeer Lichen (Cladina rangifera) and moss.

 

 

 

Pink Earth Lichen (Dibaeis baeomyces).

 

A small Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).

 

 

 

Best guess is a Tortricid moth (Family Tortricidae).

 

A few small Asters still blooming.

 

Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) is doing well despite the drought. Its leaves are stiff, waxy, and evergreen.

 

Round-leaved Pyrola (Pyrola rotundifolia) is another evergreen.

 

October 17th. A brief stop at Cranberry Bog where it looks like some construction is to begin in the parking area. I'm guessing there's more work to be done on the sewer line that runs under the trail there, with badly needed resurfacing of the lot when they're done.

 

At least 15 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) present in three groupings.