Gray Hairstreak

In spite of mostly cloudy and cool conditions, this didn't turn out to be too bad of a day for nature.  This morning I had several warblers fly into the trees right in front of my house:  Pine Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Black-and-White Warbler, the last being a new species for my yard list.

All but the Pine Warbler cooperated for photos (relatively speaking).

 Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Black-and-White Warbler

At lunchtime, I took a hike along the Sherborn Power Line trail, hoping for a butterfly sighting.  Sunshine was spotty, but apparently it was sufficient to bring out at least two nice species:  Eastern Pine Elfin and Gray Hairstreak.  (also two Cabbage Whites)

Eastern Pine Elfin

 (only shot before it disappeared)

 Gray Hairstreak (a beauty!)

I enjoyed the wildflowers blooming along the trail:

 Violet

 Wood Anemone

I think this is also wood anemone, although the leaves are much darker and reddish.

Unknown variety flowering shrub

I also had two close Eastern Towhee sightings and heard my first-of-year Prairie Warbler singing.

Eastern Towhee (female)

Eastern Towhee (male)

After work, I saw a Pine Warbler outside, so I went out again to try for a photo.  I got it and a Blue-Headed Vireo!  Woo hoo!!

 Pine Warbler

 Blue-Headed Vireo

This was the bird I saw on my hike last weekend at Purgatory Chasm, but it was high in the treetops.  Look at this view!  It came down low over the brook and posed so nicely!  Love it!

again

Evening Hike at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

I had just about one hour to spend at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary tonight in Norfolk, MA.

I just do not recognize female Red-Winged Blackbirds.  I saw one tonight, watched it picking through a muddy area at the edge of the water, and was sure I had a new bird (at least for my 2014 list).  I thought maybe it was an American Pipit.  Granted, I haven't seen that bird more than twice, and usually at a distance, but.....it was definitely not a match.  I was looking through the sparrow section of my bird guide when it suddenly hit me.  Red-Winged Blackbird.  Female.  I've been fooled by it before.  Fooled again.

Red-Winged Blackbird 

female

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal

Eastern Kingbird

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow Warbler

Great Blue Heron

Palm Warbler

I enjoyed this hike, after a gusty, cloudy day with very little hope of seeing birds.  It was nice to get such close views of several types of warblers, as well as the Eastern Kingbirds.  The wind kept the may flies at bay, which was a plus, too.  Maybe I'll recognize female Red-Winged Blackbirds next year...  Who knows?  LOL.

Wildflower note:  Marsh Marigolds are blooming near the waterfall.

Spring Blooms at Garden in the Woods

This morning we had our first Ruby-Throated Hummingbird visit the feeder!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

It was mostly cloudy today, so rather than fulfill my plans to search for butterflies, I decided to check out Garden in the Woods and see what's changed since last week.  Good Plan B!

Trillium grandiflora

(white wakerobin)

Claytonia Virginica

(Spring Beauty)

 and close up

Yellow Trout Lily

Trillium Cuneatum

(whip-poor-will flower)

Celandine Poppy

Thalictrum thalictroides

(anemone meadow-rue

and close up

Trillium flexipes

(bent trillium)

White Trout Lily

Trillium cuneatum

(large toadshade)

Thalictrum thalictroides

(Shoaf's double pink)

anemone meadow-rue

Leatherleaf

 Eastern Painted Turtle

 American Bullfrog

Marsh Marigold

Large-Flowered Bellwort

Striped Maple

Hubricht's Bluestar

Yellow Woodland Thimbleweed

Ovenbird

Bloodroot

Don't know the ID of this one.

Wildflower note:  Marsh marigolds blooming along Hop Brook Trail (outside of planted garden area).