May 13th. Pink Azalea or Pinxter-flower (Rhododendron nudiflorm) is fully in bloom.

 

Nasty invasive Burning Bush or Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus) in bloom.

 

At the pond east of Route 207, the first nest looked unoccupied.

 

The second nest had one Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)...

 

...and the third nest further east had the usual half hidden bird.

 

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).

 

 

 

Dandelions (Taraxicum officinale) at the Route 207 parking area.

 

A Sweat Bee (Family Halictidae).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cows across Smith Street from Cranberry Bog.

 

One of the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) families.

 

These goslings are pretty large and were the first batch to hatch.

 

The other goose family passing by. These goslings hatched later and are much smaller.

 

May 14th. East of Route 207, only nest 2 had a heron perched on it.

 

A Green Frog (Rana clamitans) in the trailside ditch.

 

 

 

Next, a walk west from Grayville Road to Judd Brook. Lots to see along the way including this Veery (Catharus fuscescens).

 

 

 

 

 

Rue-Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides).

 

 

 

 

 

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea).

 

 

 

Juvenal's Duskywing Skipper (Erynnis juvenalis) or a similar species.

 

 

 

The bridge over Judd Brook looking east.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I came to that area remembering the many Pink Lady's Slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) nearby.

 

I found exactly four. What happened to all the rest?

 

 

 

 

 

Still, I was rewarded by finding a group of Nodding Trilliums (Trillium cernuum).

 

 

 

 

 

Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium sp.). Not a grass at all but in the Iris Family (Iridaceae).

 

 

 

Blisterwort (Ranunculus recurvatus). (Thanks to Heather Campbell for correcting my earlier ID.)

 

Blunt Leaf or Grove Sandwort (Moeheringia lateriflora).

 

An American Giant Millipede (Narceus americanus). About 3 inches long. Damaged rear end and some odd flies on it - but it was able to move.

 

May 15th. False Solomon's-seal (Smilacina racemosa) is in full bloom.

 

Wool Sower Gall on Oak, made by a Cynipid Wasp (Callirhytis seminator).

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) on the Wood Duck nest box near the Colchester Spur turn off...

 

...and at the box on the south side of Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

Puffed up Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) on the beaver lodge.

 

One Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) on each of the nests east of Route 207.

 

 

 

Further east, the Heron was perched just above, not hidden deep in the nest below.