April 27th. A male Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) on a favorite Wood Duck box perch.

 

Pond or Bullhead Lilies (Nuphar variegatum) have started blooming.

 

No new work at the Route 207 crossing. I'm anxious to know what will be mounted on the pads under the cones.

 

Whatever it is requires four strong bolts.

 

Red Trilliums (Trillium erectum) west of Route 207 are in prime shape.

 

The rotting meat color is said to attract flies as pollenators.

 

 

 

 

 

East of Route 207, atop the big rock, Concord Grapes (Vitus sp.) are starting to bloom and leaf out.

 

Celandine (Chelidonium majus).

 

 

 

April 28th. A short walk east and west of Grayville Road. Various species of Violets (Viola sp.) blooming now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rue-anemone (Anemonella thalictroides).

 

 

 

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea).

 

Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum biflorum) in bud.

 

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).

 

Some with buds showing.

 

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis).

 

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii), a thorny, highly invasive "escaped ornamental".

 

 

 

A mated pair of March Flies (Family Bibionidae, Bibio sp.).

 

 

 

When I returned to my truck, they were resting on the windshield - though maybe resting isn't the right word.

 

May 1st. A walk west from Grayville Road to the Judd Brook Bridge. Pretty Spring day, mixed clouds and sun.

 

Large patches of Rue-anemone (Anemonella thalictroides) on the trail edges.

 

Leaves of Pink Lady's-slipper Orchids (Cypripedium acaule) are up. Note the two dried flower stalks at the right, one still with a seed pod.

 

At the bottom of the photo, Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) with its own dried seed pod.

 

After yesterday's rain, Judd Brook was roaring below the Air Line Trail bridge.

 

Nearby there is an old cellar hole bisected by a rotten tree trunk.

 

 

 

Small bees were feeding on abundant Dandelion (Taraxacum offinale) pollen. I think this is a Sweat Bee (Family Halictidae).

 

This is a Cuckoo Bee (Nomada sp.).

 

A female Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) beginning her nest.

 

 

 

 

 

A damaged (and dead) Earth Boring Dung Beetle (Geotrupes splendidus).

 

 

 

Juvenal's Duskywing Skipper (Erynnis juvenalis).