July 18th. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) feeding on mushrooms.

 

I'm guessing the mushrooms are Russula sp. based on the caps in the foreground.

 

Motion blur on this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) but lucky to get any shot give the foreground obstacles.

 

It didn't fly far, landing where I've seen it land before.

 

 

 

A magnificent Pandorus Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus).

 

Pat Stanulonis' hand gives a good idea of the moth's size.

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon at the pond east of River Road. Fragrant Water-lilies (Nymphaea odorara) are finally starting to bloom.

 

Three Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa), two males and a female; plus two Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta).

 

 

 

Further east, a single female Wood Duck where I'd seen a group of them a day or two ago.

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) just west of Old Hartford Road.

 

Skippers (Family Hesperididae) on the Sweet Peas, but not enough info to ID them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heading east across Old Hartford Road, I saw these little figures on the gate post. I've seen them elsewhere recently too. Jesus???

 

Furether east at the rock cut, lots of Ebony Jewelwing Damselflies (Calopteryx maculatum).

 

 

 

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

 

Awful picture of a Striped Hairstreak (Saturium liparops).

 

July 19th. The usual young Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

 

 

 

 

Two incredibly large Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) stretched out over the water.

 

 

 

 

 

The usual Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)...

 

...and the usual White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). No sign of the fawn but it could be hidden by the vegetation.

 

 

 

A male blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis).

 

An immature male Widow Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa).