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July 12th, 2023 Reader Photo Gallery

June 2023

Your June photos show an abundance of pink and showy lady’s slippers, butterflies and moths, and bird nests. In Randolph, New Hampshire, Jon Gilson discovered a young fawn, and in Chilmark, Massachusetts, Kimberly Simonsen celebrated her first-ever view of partridgeberry flowers. We also received three submissions in the not-so-aesthetically-pleasing mealtime category: in Salisbury, Vermont, Molly Andres discovered a red eft in the act of swallowing a worm, in Franconia, New Hampshire, Frank Kaczmarek found slugs chowing down on a snake, and in Colton, New York, Mike Black made a surprising find: a brook trout whose last meal was a baby muskrat.

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This gallery is made possible through generous support from the Larsen Fund.

Fox Kit Photo: Jackie Robidoux
Merrimack, NH. “Curious gray fox kit.” | Photo: Jackie Robidoux
Ichneumonid wasp Photo: Chris Duff
Hardwick, VT. “Long-tailed giant ichneumonid wasp.” The “tail” is an ovipositor that the female ichneumon uses to bore deep into wood, to lay its eggs in the larvae of pigeon horntails. | Photo: Chris Duff
Painted turtles Photo: Ken Hatch
Ferdinand, VT. “Two painted turtles that seem to be admiring each other in a wetland along South America Pond Road.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Great crested flycatcher Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “This great crested flycatcher deserted the nearby woodland to spend time in our apple tree.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Tamarack rock Photo: Susan Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Tamarack rose.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Tree frog Photo: Bill Mackowski
Milford, ME. “Grey tree frogs. Just along for the ride.” | Photo: Bill Mackowski
Butterfly Photo: Amy Earl
Shoreham, VT. “A butterfly on our unmowed lawn.” | Photo: Amy Earl
Blackeyed susan Photo: Bonita Choly
Pownal, VT. “Black-eyed Susan before she was famous.” | Photo: Bonita Choly
Slug feeding Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Franconia, NH. “A group of slugs slowly devour the remnants of what was a young snake.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Pitcher plant Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “Pitcher plant flowers seen at Colchester Bog.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Indigo bunting Photo: Jim Squires
Charlotte, VT. “Indigo bunting.” | Photo: Jim Squires
Snapping turtle Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Lewiston, ME. “Snapping turtle laying eggs in Central Maine.” | Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Hummingbird moth Photo: Amy Quist
Heath, MA. “A hummingbird moth flutters in the flowers, feeding on nectar.” (Another name for this moth is snowberry clearwing.) | Photo: Amy Quist
Bee on mushroom Photo: Judy Sweet
Shelburne Falls, MA. “Bee hovers over a parasol mushroom in the hollow of a decomposing tree stump.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Great Blue Heron Photo: Eric D’Aleo
Whitefield, NH. “Great blue heron stalking bullhead in the shallows.” | Photo: Eric D’Aleo
Dragonfly wing Photo: Susan Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Dragonfly wing.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Gray catbird Photo: Amy Earl
Shoreham, VT. “Gray catbird singing at sunrise.” | Photo: Amy Earl
Starflower Photo: Tom Grett
Adirondacks, NY. “Starflower.” | Photo: Tom Grett
Loon Photo: Karinne Heise
Weare, NH. “A loon on Horace Lake.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Baltimore checkerspot Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “The Baltimore checkerspot is one of the most colorful butterflies found in the Northeast. It frequents old fields and roadsides.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Lockwood Pond Photo: Ira A. Powsner
Belvidere, VT. “Lockwood Pond on the Long Trail in Mid-June. We heard peepers, American toads, and green frogs from Tillotson Camp the night before, as well as a beaver tail.” | Photo: Ira A. Powsner
Dragonfly Photo: Nickolay Burnin
Burlington, VT. “We saved that dragonfly from the lake. It dried on my hand and flew away.” | Photo: Nickolay Burnin
Wild rhodora Photo: Irina N. Burnina
Franconia, NH. “Rhododendron canadense on Cannon Mountain.” | Photo: Irina N. Burnina
Luna moth Photo: Jackie Robidoux
Merrimack, NH. “Luna moth.” | Photo: Jackie Robidoux
Corporal dragonflies Photo: Eric D’Aleo
Whitefield, NH. “Chalk-fronted corporal dragonflies lined up and ready for takeoff.” | Photo: Eric D’Aleo
Showy ladyslippers Photo: Sharon Bombard
Lenox, MA. “Showy lady slippers are blooming now, rare and considered endangered here in Massachusetts.” | Photo: Sharon Bombard
Fishing spider Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Lewiston, ME. A fishing spider. | Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Angry birds Photo: Amy Earl
Shoreham, VT. “Angry acrobatics! A red-winged blackbird harasses an American kestrel.” | Photo: Amy Earl
Pond stump Photo: Nancy Halloran
Holderness, NH. “The rock lodged in the stump reminds me of a big heart.” | Photo: Nancy Halloran
Pink ladyslipper Photo: Ken Hatch
Brighton, VT. “Pink lady’s slipper along the Boreal Forest Trail at Brighton State Park.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Snail larva Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Littleton, NH. “A land snail larva, still devoid of body pigmentation, explores its environment.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Fawn Photo: Jon Gilson
Randolph, NH. “On our daily dog walk, we saw a doe bound away down the trail and when we got to where she’d startled, we found this little fawn bedded down and doing its best to stay still!” | Photo: Jon Gilson
Partridgeberry flowers Photo: Kimberly Simonsen
Chilmark, MA. “I had never seen partridgeberry flowers before!” | Photo: Kimberly Simonsen
Showy ladyslippers Photo: Kit Hood
Strafford, VT. “Beautiful showy lady slippers.” | Photo: Kit Hood
Heron Photo: Richard Philben
Gill, MA. “A heron hunting for its lunch in Barton’s Cove.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Slugs on stinkhorn Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Stinkhorn has not yet reached ‘maximum stink’ but it’s already feeding the slugs!” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Pitcher plants Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “The base of a pitcher plant at Colchester Bog. Insects and other prey are attracted by nectar that is secreted at the mouth of the pitcher. The prey falls into the pitcher and is digested.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Red eft Photo: Jim Squires
Charlotte, VT. “Red eft foraging.” | Photo: Jim Squires
Ladyslipper Photo: Tom Grett
Adirondacks, NY. “Pink lady’s slipper.” | Photo: Tom Grett
Butterfly weed Photo: Judy Sweet
Shelburne Falls, MA. “Orange butterfly milkweed blossoms were just beginning to open on June 20th.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Eft eating worm Photo: Molly Andres
Salisbury, VT. “I see red efts during morning walks often but this is the first time I found one having breakfast!” | Photo: Molly Andres
Mating moths Photo: Mark Geoffroy
Northfield, MA. “I found these moths mating in a meadow-sweet bush on my property.” | Photo: Mark Geoffroy
Ladybug Photo: Pam Landry
Webster, MA. “Ladybug life cycle in the perennial garden.” | Photo: Pam Landry
Waxwings Photo: Peter Hollinger
Sharon, VT. “Cedar waxwings in an apple tree.” | Photo: Peter Hollinger
Cucumber root Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Jefferson, ME. “Indian cucumber root.” | Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Luna moth Photo: Ira A. Powsner
Jay, VT. “This luna moth was clinging to the spruce/fir on the summit of Jay Peak in the mist and wind.” | Photo: Ira A. Powsner
Pine barrens Photo: Sharon Bombard
Albany, NY. “One of only 20 examples of inland pine barrens in the world, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve uses controlled burns to maintain the habitat, home to many species of plants and animals, including the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly.” | Photo: Sharon Bombard
Spiny oak slug moth Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “This colorful spiny oak slug moth turned up on a fern in our yard.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Baby barn swallows Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “Baby barn swallows.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Bunchberry Photo: Tom Grett
Adirondacks, NY. “Bunchberry.” | Photo: Tom Grett
Scarlet tanager Photo: Amy Quist
Heath, MA. “A scarlet tanager emerged from the tree tops to brighten up a gray day.” | Photo: Amy Quist
Robins plantain Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Robin’s plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) transforms from bud to bloom.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Wren house Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex Town, VT. “This house wren has an active nest in an old bluebird nest box in my yard. The wren has caught an insect, which it will bring to some chicks in the box below.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Beaver work Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Quabbin Reservoir, MA. “Eager beaver(s), 17” diameter oak.” | Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Baby woodcock Photo: CJ Frankiewicz
East Clarendon, VT. “A woodcockling of two found after flushing mom on Mother’s Day.” | Photo: CJ Frankiewicz
Toad Photo: Jim Squires
Charlotte, VT. “Toad in front yard.” | Photo: Jim Squires
Wild orchids Photo: Dian Parker
Secret Place, VT. “Lady slippers/wild orchids.” | Photo: Dian Parker
Fox family Photo: Glenn Foster
Penobsquis, New Brunswick. “Red fox momma had 5 kits.” | Photo: Glenn Foster
Trout ate muskrat Photo: Mike Black
Colton, Adirondacks, NY. This 10” brook trout completely swallowed this baby muskrat, with the head just sticking out of its mouth. | Photo: Mike Black
Red belt Photo: Jack Nelson
Cummington-Swift River WMA, MA. “Western red belt polypore, Fomitopsis mounceae. | Photo: Jack Nelson
Hickory tussock moth Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “Hickory tussock moth.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Stump reflection Photo: Nancy Halloran
Holderness, NH. “Nice reflection of a stump with a small forest growing on it, a great paddling day on White Oak Pond.” | Photo: Nancy Halloran
Swallowtail butterfly Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “Swallowtail butterfly.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Pine bush Photo: Sharon Bombard
Albany, NY. “There are twenty miles of trails to wander in the Pine Bush over a rolling sand plain.” | Photo: Sharon Bombard
Cinnamon fern Photo: Judy Sweet
Conway, MA. “This striking cinnamon fern was seen in early June.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Mallard nest Photo: CJ Frankiewicz
East Clarendon, VT. “Mallard nest 1 of 2. Wait ‘til you see where!” | Photo: CJ Frankiewicz
Mallard eggs Photo: CJ Frankiewicz
East Clarendon, VT. “Mallard nest 2 of 2. Hidden with a roof overhead!” | Photo: CJ Frankiewicz
Hermit thrush Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Momma hermit thrush on her eggs in the middle of a woodland trail. Trails are a great habitat addition as long as they are not mowed until after the nesting season.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Mountain laurel Photo: Wendy Joubert
Paxton, MA. “Mountain laurel with un-triggered stamen.” | Photo: Wendy Joubert
Loon family Photo: Ken Hatch
Warren Gore, VT. “A pair of common loons and their young chick on Norton Pond.” | Photo: Ken Hatch

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