It was raining when I awoke, so I didn’t get out until 10:00, for a very brief trip.
The crew at Quiet Waters had defoliated my favorite bug spot, so I didn’t find very much at all. A passing crow posed briefly.

I took this lat Fall at Governor Bridge and recently had occasion to look at it again. The tail and breast are wrong for a Yellow Billed Cuckoo, which I didn’t notice in my haste. It’s a Black Billed Cuckoo, and a life bird for me.

I usually pass up crows, but this one was close, in good light.

Today’s bugs.

It looked like a promising morning, slightly cloudy and cool enough. I got to the park early, and spent a couple of hours looking for birds, with no significant luck.
Oddly the bug hunting was slow as well. I’m still kicking myself for missing a couple of nice snakes.

This beetle landed on a car in the parking lot.

Today’s bugs.

The cool weather continued today, and my plan was to return to Governor Bridge, but the truck wanted to go to Wooton, so we compromised on Sands Road. This park is a huge open field surrounded by trees and shrubs, and I was very surprised to see that someone had mowed the entire field, which must be at least a quarter mile in diameter. That made walking much easier than walking through the tall grass.

This female Blue Grosbeak was foraging near the edge of the field.

I saw several Common Yellowthroats.

This Northern Cardinal was greeting the morning with a song.

I’ve seen several Field Sparrows at Sands Road.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Prairie Warbler

Miscellaneous images.

Today’s bugs.

I stayed close to home again this morning. After a couple of hours at Truxtun, I went to Quiet Waters and poked around my favorite spots. I actually though the small centipede was a caterpillar, until I got a close look in the computer.

“NATURE rarer uses yellow
Than another hue;
Saves she all of that for sunsets,—
Prodigal of blue,

Spending scarlet like a woman,
Yellow she affords
Only scantly and selectly,
Like a lover’s words.”

Emily Dickinson

Today’s bugs.

This centipede was out in the open, which is unusual in my experience.

This package has been in front of my door for four days. It was delivered to the wrong address (We are 1021, the address says 1121).
We have: Called the recipient and left a message. This is the second time her packages have been left at our door, and she didn’t do anything about it last time.
We have also called Fed Ex 3 times, and they have yet to act.
When I said I’d post it on the web, they said, “Go ahead”. I have gone ahead.

It looked like another near perfect day, and I set out early for Wooton. I found a few good birds right away, so I tried the upper trail after traversing the lower trail twice. A waste of time, but good exercise I suppose. A big beaver provided some excitement.
The afternoon trip to Quiet Waters was a blank. Too damn many people.

I just barely got a look at this large Beaver as he crossed the path.

There are always Swamp Sparrows at Wooton, but they seldom pose so well.

First Goldfinch of the season.

Yellow Rumped Warblers are coming into breeding plumage.

This Canada Goose was protecting his mate from another Goose.

Eastern Bluebirds are getting easy to find.

Many White Throated Sparrows were foraging in the grass.

It’s not a very good image, but I only got one chance at this Prairie Warbler.

Another cooperative turtle.

The weather gods continue to please, even if the birds are less cooperative. I seet out erly gor Governor Bridge in hopes of finding some warblers, but it didn’t happen. I did find a couple of migrants, but pickings were slim.
After a nap, I went to Quiet Waters, which also slow, I found a few birds and bugs.

This Ruby Crowned Kinglet is a first for this year.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, another first.

I was lucky to get this White Eyed Vireo.

THis Eastern Towhee was singing loudly from the top of a bush when I arrived, and when I left two hours later.

This White Breasted Nuthatch is nesting in Quiet Waters.

This Pileated Woodpecker landed nearby while I was watching the Nuthatch.

Today’s bugs.

The promise of good weather had me out at dawn, heading for Jonas Green. Horned Grebes were everywhere, in breeding plumage, along with a few Buffleheads and one spectacular Red-Throated Loon, a life bird for me.
I then went to Quiet Waters, where the magic cove wasn’t as productive as before, but it still produced some good birds.

This Gadwall was in the small pond adjacent to Jonas Green.

This Song Sparrow, like many birds at this time, is looking for a mate.

This Common Loon, like many, disappeared soon after I got this picture.

This Canvasback hen will be heading West soon.

This Canada Goose will probably breed in the area.

Horned Grebes are quite striking in breeding plumage.

I knew this Red-Throated Loon was different when I saw him, but I wasn’t sure of the ID.
Cornell:”The smallest of the loons, the Red-throated Loon breeds at high latitudes in North America and Eurasia. It is distinctive among loons not only in size, but also in behavior, vocalizations, locomotion, and other aspects of life history.”

This Ant is tiny, and he was moving.

A neighborhood bud.

I know nothing about Snails.