July 31st. The usual Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

 

 

Best patch of Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) in years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Great Blue Heron. This one at the marsh by the Colchester Spur junction. I think this is the very slender bird I've seen before at Raymond Brook Marsh. Perhaps a young bird from this year?

 

August 1st. Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) at the pond east of route 207.

 

I think this is a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) molting. From a distance it looked even lighter colored.

 

 

 

 

 

I turned back when I reached the powerlines.

 

A quick stop at the pond east of River Road. Fragrant Water-lily (Nymphaea odorata).

 

Next stop, Cranberry Bog in East Hampton. A pair of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus).

 

A Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The usual Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) landing.

 

This is the bird with the damaged tongue exiting through its throat. (Hmm, I just noticed the very blurred Tree Swallow passing by. See it?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2nd. At Cranberry Bog, three Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) on Meadowsweet (Spiraea latifolia).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatorium sp.).

 

A particularly light colored Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) plant.

 

Sunflowers (Helianthus sp.).

 

August 4th. Groundnut (Apios americana) with a dewey Bumble Bee that spent the night on it.

 

A young (I assume) female Common Yellowthroat warbler (Geothlypic trichas).

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, the male arrived with a beak full of insects. That's why I assumed the bird on the left was a young female.

 

A green caterpillar and a brown Dragonfly, probably a female Meadowhawk (Sympetrum sp.).

 

Tease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A large Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) on a fallen limb over the marsh where I've seen two there before.

 

The usual Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

 

 

August 5th. The huge Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) in its usual spot.

 

 

 

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens).

 

 

 

Probably Amanita sp. but I'll leave it at that.

 

More pictures from August 5th on the next page.