July 16th. Momma Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) and a couple of her ducklings.

 

 

 

Seven ducklings in all.

 

 

 

No, make that eight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Pepperbush or Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is just starting to bloom.

 

July 17th. I've been calling the three birds I see and hear together near the Route 85 trailhead crows, but I think now that they must be Common Ravens (Corvus corax). They're huge, have longer beaks and hairier throats than crows, and their calls are louder and more varied.

 

Yesterday, one had a paper dinner plate in its mouth while the other two birds persued it, trying to wrest it away.

 

Not sure what's going on with this Eastern Cottontail's (Sylvilagus floridanus) white tufted butt.

 

 

 

Not bothered though and allowed me to get quite close.

 

I don't see any sign of a tail.

 

Time for some scratching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was back on its usual grooming perch.

 

Fluff on its beak.

 

Yoga?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Namaste.

 

July 18th. Humidy fog. Two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) on that dead tree, but one departed before I could focus the camera for a picture.

 

The bunny with the odd butt.

 

 

 

Yet another group of young Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

Four in this group, two of each sex I think.