May 17th. The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) was at Norton's Pond again this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

See that dark spec dead center of the photo? That's the Cormorant. Despite its limitations, I love my little camera's versatility.

 

This Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) flew in and made an attack pass on the Cormorant. The latter reponded but never flew. The heron landed at the far left of the pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back out to the trail east of Depot Hill Road in Cobalt. Ninty gegrees. Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) on Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis).

 

 

 

Dame's Rocket comes in several colors and shades of colors all growing together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense).

 

 

 

 

 

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) attracted to a bit of mud. (The weather has been very dry.)

 

Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus), also attracted to the moisture.

 

One of several Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) circling overhead.

 

A dead, or nearly dead, young Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) out on the hot trail surface.

 

It did seem to react a bit when I was positioning it, but... who knows; probably dead.

 

 

 

 

 

I placed it off the trail in shade.

 

Lots of small Violets (Viola sp.) on a damp rock cut surface.

 

Commonly called Spider Spit and similar names, this froth is produced by a Spittlebug (Family Cercopidae) nymph.

 

Wiping away some of the froth, you can see the nymph. It gains camouflage from predators and safety from dessication.

 

A Woolly Bear, caterpillar of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella). Dorsal view.

 

Side view.

 

Ventral view. Head and 3 pair of true legs at the left; pro-legs on most of the abdominal segments.

 

May 18th. Pink Azalea or Pinxter-flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum).

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) in an unusual high perch.

 

 

 

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilo troilus).

 

 

 

Next stop, Norton's Pond. A Syrphid Flower Fly on a Bullhead-Lily (Nuphar variegatum).

 

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).

 

Dragonfly (Order Odonata, Sub-order Anisoptera) but I can't ID any better than that.

 

 

 

All along the pond edges, fish were hovering around nests for young.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Cranberry Bog, a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). I think this is "Dad".

 

Goslings nearly impossible to see beside "Mom" at the left. I didn't dare go closer.

 

Geese love Duckweed (Lemna minor), a remarkable little plant - the smallest of all flowering plants.
Read about it here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lemna_minor.shtml

 

 

 

 

 

English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata).

 

A Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) chasing a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

 

The Red-tail was joined by another Red-tail circling above the marsh. Took me awhile...

 

 

 

 

 

...to get both birds in one picture.