Fall Foliage in Bohemia, New York

Every day on my way to work, I drive by this magnificent tree. It outshines all others trees in our area during the fall and I felt like I had to take its picture. It's just too bad that the telephone wires are in the way. 

Skippers

Years ago, when I had an interest in gardening, I took (with permission) one sedum plant from my mother’s garden. I still have the plant in my backyard, and it’s one of my garden favorites, because it needs no care, attracts bees and butterflies, and looks spectacular in the fall when other plants are fading.  The sedum pictured above is not in my garden, but rather one I saw during my walk yesterday. The butterfly in the photo is a skipper.  What exact species of skipper it is, I’m not sure of, but my guess is it’s a Sachem.  A lot of skippers look alike, so it’s tough for me, a mere nature enthusiast and not an entomologist, to confidently identify one.  Skippers are not especially beautiful looking or graceful fliers like other butterflies, but they do have their assets.  Here is something about them, or at least their eyesight, that makes them unique:  “The eyes of Skippers are different from those of other butterflies. They have a space between the cones and rods which allows light from each ommatidium to spill into neighbouring rods, effectively increasing their resolution and sensitivity. As a result Skippers can fly very accurately from one spot to another. This different type of eye structure is one of the reasons why taxonomists place them in a different super-family to all other butterflies - the Hesperioidea.” http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Anatomy.htm

West Brook Pond

Here is a photo taken this morning at West Brook Pond. The Greenbelt Trail goes along the eastern  portion of the pond and continues through the tunnel, seen in the distance, crossing under Sunrise Highway. It then leads into Connetquot River State Park. Although it is a pleasant walk, the Greenbelt Trail here gets rather overgrown, so ticks can easily be picked up.  Because of the tick problem, I didn't walk there today. I just took a few pictures of the pond and then left.

Black-Throated Green Warbler

 

Yesterday while I was walking in the Connetquot River State Park,  I spotted this bright little bird. When I got home I tried identifying it, which became a challenge. After searching the internet and going through A Field Guide to Warblers of North America by Jon Dunn and Kimball Garrett, I concluded that it is probably a first fall female Black-Throated Green Warbler. Because the juvenile females do not possess the namesake black throat, they are not as easy to identify.  However, Black-Throated Green Warbler is still my best guess as to what type of bird this was.

Connetquot Thistle

 

If you see thistle, you are also likely to see various winged creatures that feed on the flowers and the seeds. Pictured above are a butterfly and a goldfinch enjoying their thistle snacks.

They're Back

The puffball mushrooms can once again be found along a path near the fish hatchery at Connetquot River State Park.