June 26th, continued. At the River Road parking area by Norton's Pond, a male American Lady butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis).

 

 

 

See the butterfly's proboscis probing the soil? It's collecting minerals to transfer to the female in his spermatophore (packet of sperm). The female needs these minerals for egg production.

 

 

 

Proboscis at work here too.

 

 

 

June 27th. Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) hanging out in the middle of the trail as many people passed by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Female Deer Fly (Chrysops sp.). Thanks to friend Pat for sacrificing the back of his hand.

 

A walk west from Route 149 to River Road, passing Norton's Pond. Can't identify this but think it forms a burr after flowering.

 

Best guess is an Andrenid Wasp, possibly Andrena nubecula.

 

 

 

Crown Vetch (Securigera varia).

 

 

 

A Skipper. Best guess is a female Crossline Skipper (Polites prigenes) taking nectar from Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) on it's nest.

 

June 28th. A freshly opened Pasture or Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina).

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Lily (Lilium canadense).

 

 

 

Swamp-azalea (Rhododendron viscosum). "Viscosum" for the red sticky hairs on the buds.

 

Tall Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum polygamum).

 

Queen Anne's Lace or Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) is getting ready to bloom.

 

 

 

Showy Tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is also just starting to flower. The 3 to 5 jointed seedpods are covered in tiny hooked hairs that adhere to clothing and are difficult to remove.

 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).

 

Not far from where there was a nest.

 

Back out in the afternoon to Cranberry Bog and this female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).

 

 

 

The resident Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) unsing "gular flutter" to try and cool off a bit. Here's Google's AI definition: "Gular fluttering is a highly effective, energy-efficient cooling mechanism used by many birds to regulate their body temperature . Because birds lack sweat glands, they cannot sweat like mammals. Instead, they rapidly vibrate the moist membranes and muscles of their throat (the gular area) while keeping their beaks open."

 

Nearly impossible to tell the goslings from the adult Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). Pretty sure only the adults have a new batch of flight feathers.

 

 

 

 

 

June 29th. Particularly nice Swamp-azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) flowers.

 

Canada Lily (Lilium canadense) about to open.

 

Another one, open but with pollen not yet exposed.

 

 

 

 

 

June 30th. A Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) with a bum left leg.

 

It seems to be coping okay.

 

At Old Colchester Road, bridge work has stalled for at least four days, Saturday through Tuesday, so far.