Great Blue Herons

Great Blue Heron and Swan at Deep Pond in Connetquot River State Park

When I stopped  yesterday at the Deep Pond Bridge to view the scenery,  I heard, in the distance, wings taking off in flight. It was a great blue heron. These magnificent birds always seem to sense my presence before I become aware of theirs.  Although I get frustrated and disappointed when trying to photograph them, I am also mystified and intrigued by their keen senses. I sometimes even wonder if they possess some sort of sixth sense. My only photo of the great blue heron that I saw yesterday was of him making his escape. Can you spot him?

Leopard Moth Caterpillar

I believe this fuzzy fellow is a leopard moth caterpillar. Although they appear to be cute and harmless, they are actually destructive creatures that bore through the stems and heartwood of trees. It takes two to three years for their life cycle to be completed. When the moths emerge in June to early fall, they are bright white with black spots. The adult moths are strictly nocturnal and generally do not fly before nighttime, which is why I have been unable to photograph one. This photo was taken last Sunday at the Connetquot River State Park.

Catbird

I heard this catbird before I saw him. He sounded his alarm call as I strolled into his territory.  I think catbirds are understatedly attractive with their slate grey coloring and black capped heads; they resemble refined gentlemen dressed in formal wear.  But when they start squawking their meow-like call, I am reminded that these are not timid, retiring birds, but rather are ready and willing to let people know what they consider to be their domain. Their unique meow-like call is why they are called catbirds. These birds migrate, so this might be the last one I see around here (Connetquot River State Park) until next spring.

Bald-faced Hornets

Bald-faced hornets commonly build their nests in trees (as pictured above). In the spring, the queen hornet begins the nest construction by chewing up strips of wood and mixing the fibers with her sticky saliva. When completed it could accommodate hundreds of hornets. Although I looked at this nest several times when I was at Bunces Bridge (Connetquot River State Park), I never saw a hornet go in or out of it. That could be due to the weather turning cold and the hornets dying off. Only the queen hornets survive the winter and start building new nests in the spring. 

Thistle

Where the thistle lifts a purple crown...
Frances ThompsoWhen

Whenever I see thistle, I think of Scotland and its culture. It is the country's national flower and there are several stories in Scottish folklore involving the flower. According to one legend, thistle thwarted a Viking nighttime raid on a Scottish castle when a Norseman in his bare feet stepped on a prickly stem and shrieked, alerting the sleeping Scots. If you want to see thistle, you do not have to cross the Atlantic Ocean because it does grow in our area. Although it is called a pernicious weed in many American wildflower books, I don’t see it too often around here.  About two years ago, I spotted some growing on the traffic Island near the intersection of Locust Avenue and Sunrise Highway in Bohemia. Unfortunately, it was mowed just as it was beginning to bloom. These days I see it in the Connetquot River State Park where I took the above photograph.