May 8th. The invasive Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) is blooming.

 

Distant Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius). Same place as the recent Sandhill Cranes spotting (never seen since).

 

At Old Colchester Road, I see the power and phone lines have been rerouted to avoid contact with the digger arm.

 

First project of the day was piling some boulders and other debris.

 

 

 

 

 

May 9th. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Norton's Pond.

 

 

 

 

 

\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also at Norton's Pond... Green Heron (Butorides virescens).

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), a nasty invasive.

 

 

 

Another invasive, Japanese Barberry (Berberus thumbergii). Looks like a different cultivar of it - with larger flowers.

 

 

 

Back to the Raymond Brook Marsh section. Pink Lady's-Slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) are now in full bloom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) climbs trees...

 

...as well as crawling across the ground. Every part is toxic to the touch.

 

I'm not sure of this. Help?

 

 

 

Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) are finally back in numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis).

 

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea).

 

Grackle and Red-winged Blackbird harassing a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).

 

 

 

Decent close-ups of a male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)...

 

...and friends on a beaver lodge.

 

 

 

Mayfly (Order Ephemeroptera).

 

A Saturday morning status since no work will happen before Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 10th. Female Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) with one chick. (Sorry for the photo's noise.)

 

A pair of CAnada Geese (Branta canadensis). Maybe looking for a nesting site? If so, this seems a very exposed option.