Well, what I thought was a bee turns out to be a bee look-alike. I did a little research on the differences among bees, wasps, and flies. It so happens that there is a family of flies called Flower Flies (nearly 900 species in North America!) that mimic bees and wasps in looks. However, the flies have short instead of long antennae, large eyes on the front of their heads instead of on the sides, and one pair of wings instead of two (and aren't hairy, as bees usually are). These flower flies are great pollinators, do not sting, and their larvae eat lots of aphids, so are good to have around. This particular flower fly is a Spilomyia fusca (sorry, no common name).
On the 26th I mentioned I hadn't seen any Painted Turtles for awhile, and then saw one that day. Today as I approached the water's edge near the viewing stand, I noticed three round humps in the duckweed, two of which disappeared as I got closer. It was then I realized it was three painted turtles who were partially submerged in the water. Just a few feet away was this one, with just part of its head visible above the surface.
You know those black and white butterflies that fly around with a rattling sound, and disappear when they land? I was able to get this shot of one this morning alongside the trail. When I checked it out after I got home, I discovered that it is a kind of grasshopper called a Carolina Locust. Fortunately, it is not one of the species that does severe crop damage.
As I was walking past the little pond below the sewage lagoons this morning, I noticed several tiny frogs leap into the water. Taking a closer look to to see if I could spot one, I startled a Sora that happened to be in the tall grass next to the path. It jumped out onto a clump of grass, and then scooted over to the reeds at the side of the pond. I had to be quick, but I managed to get a couple of fairly good shots before it disappeared into the reeds. I was really excited as it was a juvenile Sora, not a fully grown adult. I had seen two just recently, but wasn't able to get a shot of them.
This morning I noticed a couple of kinds of bumble bee collecting pollen from this Meadow Sweet blossom, then noticed a bee that I didn't recognize. I still haven't identified it, so suggestions welcome! (I think it is a bee rather than a wasp, as apparently wasps usually have tiny 'waists', although I could be wrong...)
A couple of times recently, I've seen a flock of robins in this large Shadbush at the marsh (or Indian Pear or Serviceberry as it is also known). The berries seem to be favorites of the robins. We can eat them too; although fairly seedy, they are quite sweet.
I was just thinking that I hadn't seen any Painted Turtles for awhile, when I noticed this one basking in the sun near one of the viewing stands. It'll be another few weeks before baby ones hatch from the eggs laid last month.
I've noticed a number of Red Admiral butterflies around this summer. This one happened to be sunning itself alongside the trail this morning. The edges of its wings were rather ragged. These butterflies live into the late fall, apparently, until they succumb to freezing temperatures. The two views above are of the same butterfly.
This morning I saw three Great Blue Herons again, perhaps the same ones seen on Saturday. This time they were at the mouth of the inlet into the French Basin. I don't now what the issue was, but one of them seemed to want one of the others to "move off".
While walking on the spur of the trail that ends up at the old railway station, I was surprised to see this Bald-faced Hornets' nest hanging in a hawthorn tree alongside the trail. I don't know why I hadn't noticed it before; perhaps because it was a cloudy morning, it was more evident. These hornets, actually a kind of wasp, are the ones that make this style of paper nest. Bald-faced hornets are beneficial, killing great numbers of flies and even other wasps, apparently. But yes, they will defend their nest if it is disturbed.
