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June 10th, 2021 Reader Photo Gallery

May 2021

In May, you often turned your lenses on owls. Fuzzy barred fledglings peered down at Gary Campbell from a tree, while Kirk Gentalen investigated the grisly remains of a saw-whet’s past meals. Meanwhile, by the water, Cheryl Metcalf discovered a mayfly hatch on Mooselookmeguntic Lake, and Ken Hatch documented (and educated us about) Quetelet scattering on a vernal pool. May flowers were also a common theme, including a nice image of wild oats (sessile-leaved bellwort) by Charlotte H., age 11.

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Barred owl Photo: Benjamin Wymer
Sandwich, NH. “This barred owl flew UP into an adjacent tree to catch this mouse!” | Photo: Benjamin Wymer
Mountain biking Photo: Alex Barrett
Ascutney, VT. “White pine silviculture and mountain biking go hand in hand.” | Photo: Alex Barrett
Tiger beetle Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “Six-spotted tiger beetle, an emerald color beauty among beetle species.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
May Fox Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
Ashland, ME. “Fox Tales.” | Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
Striped maple Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “Striped maple dangling blossoms.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Map Turtles Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “Map turtles sunning themselves along the Lamoille River.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Caterpillar Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Snydertown, PA. “A giant leopard moth caterpillar on our driveway...what a find!” | Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Waterfall Photo: Nancy Halloran
Kingston, NH. “Waterfall in Kingston Town Forest.” | Photo: Nancy Halloran
Spruce Grouse Photo: Gordon Gould
Ferdinand, VT. “We spotted this female spruce grouse in Wenlock WMA on Mother’s Day morning.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Wild oats Photo: Charlotte H.
Waterford, ME. “Wild oats by Charlotte H., age 11.” This native wildflower also goes by the name sessile-leaved bellwort. | Photo: Charlotte H.
Quetelet Pattern Photo: Ken Hatch
Bethel, VT. This is one of three images that Ken Hatch shared, showing a “Quetelet Pattern on a vernal pool which I took on May 7, 2021.” Quetelet scattering occurs from an interplay of light reflecting off the water surface, and off particles on top of the water (here, pollen). Hatch notes, “I do not think I had ever seen this rainbow-like effect on a pond surface before. I found a picture and good description of how it happens on the website www.epod.usra.edu in archives, Dec. 16, 2015.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Sandpiper Photo: Ben Metcalf
Brookfield, VT. “Solitary sandpiper on log with reflection.” | Photo: Ben Metcalf
Hobblebush Photo: Susan Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Halo of hobblebush.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Bass fishing Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Elimsport, PA. “Beavers and bass live in this pond, providing fun for photographers and fishermen.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Tree Swallow Photo: Andrei Burnin
Enfield, NH. “Tree swallow.” | Photo: Andrei Burnin
Snakes Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
Ashland, ME. “Slithering times.” | Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
Heron Photo: Cindy Morin
Pownal, ME. “A great blue heron looking for its next meal.” | Photo: Cindy Morin
Fisher Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Snydertown, PA. A fisher, “enjoying the morning woods.” | Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Lady Slipper Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Quabbin Reservoir, Ware, MA. Pink lady’s slippers. | Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Cecropia Photo: Tami Gingrich
Middlefield, OH. “Cecropia pheromones: Get in line! And this indeed, is a line . . . an invisible one! I've never seen a more telling example of male Cecropias picking up on an invisible line of pheromones being released by a female (inside of the cage). FYI, this is not photoshopped! LOL!” | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Warbler Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex, VT. “Chestnut-sided warbler.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Fox kits Photo: Laurie Placella
Fiskdale, MA. “Who are you? Who, who?” | Photo: Laurie Placella
Fringed polygala Photo: Peggy Warwick
New Salem, MA. “Fringed polygala.” | Photo: Peggy Warwick
Northern Parula Photo: Ben Metcalf
Brookfield, VT. “Northern parula among the apple blossoms.” | Photo: Ben Metcalf
Tupper Lake Photo: John Blaser
Adirondacks, NY. “Sunrise on Little Tupper Lake, William C. Whitney Wilderness.” | Photo: John Blaser
Oyster Mushrooms Photo: Jennifer Brockway
Troy, ME. “Oyster mushrooms, too late for dinner.” | Photo: Jennifer Brockway
False Hellebores Photo: Toby Kravitz
White River Junction, VT. “False hellebores.” | Photo: Toby Kravitz
Hummingbird Photo: Cindy Morin
Pownal, ME. “A ruby throated hummer feeding on blueberry flowers.” | Photo: Cindy Morin
Red Eft Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “The red eft: “Finally, some rain!” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Fox Photo: Andrei Burnin
Plainfield, NH. “Very brave and cute fox kit.” | Photo: Andrei Burnin
Robin eggs Photo: Deidre Qui
Tewkbury, NJ. “Peek a boo a robin egg blue.” | Photo: Deidre Qui
Wood Turtle Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “Wood turtle.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Coyote Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Elimsport, PA. “This eastern coyote and I came upon each other in mid-afternoon; it has porcupine quills in its muzzle and near its right eye.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Ladyslippers Photo: Sheri Larsen
Burlington, VT. The yellow lady’s slippers were found growing wild in a Burlington park. | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Barred Owl Photo: Benjamin Carbonetti
Manchester, CT. “Barred owl visits daily in a small wooded area (100 acres) in the small city of Manchester, just outside of Hartford.” | Photo: Benjamin Carbonetti
Swallowtail Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Early (first?) brood male black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) in a wildlife opening.” | Photo: AM Dannis
Myrtle Warbler Photo: Peter Hollinger
Sharon, VT. “This myrtle warbler was catching insects on the wing and on the water.” The name Myrtle warbler is a common name for the eastern subspecies of the yellow-rumped warbler. | Photo: Peter Hollinger
Bunchberry Photo: Stephen Fox
Canterbury, NH. “Bunchberry (dwarf cornel) in Hutchins Forest.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Bear River Photo: Geoffrey Bluh
Conway, MA. “A section of the Bear river flowing through Conway, MA. Dry weather made for lower rivers this spring.” | Photo: Geoffrey Bluh
Turtle hatchling Photo: Gordon Gould
Waterford, VT. “This painted turtle hatchling, who was due to hatch last Sept 17, wintered over in the nest and appeared May 8. The shell is barely one inch in diameter.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Hawk Photo: Jim Buckley
Sandown, NH. “Low flying hawk on a mission.” | Photo: Jim Buckley
Maple Photo: Patricia Sweitzer
Newbury, NH. “Acer pensylvanicum, striped maple or in New England commonly known as moose maple goosefoot maple, is a small North American species of maple. The striped maple is a sequential hermaphrodite, meaning that it can change its sex throughout its lifetime.” | Photo: Patricia Sweitzer
Spring peeper Photo: Sally Cornwell
Brookfield, NH. “Camouflaged spring peeper.” | Photo: Sally Cornwell
Snake skin Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lincoln, NH. “Looking like used bubble wrap, a close-up of a part of a sloughed off snake skin.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Striped Maple Photo: Samantha Schiela
East Dover, VT. “Striped maple buds leafing out in early May.” | Photo: Samantha Schiela
Barred Owl Photo: Dave Thompson
Limington, ME. Barred owl in the Limington woods. | Photo: Dave Thompson
Catbird Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Waterville, PA. “Gray catbird on a cold spring morning.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Goldthread Photo: Jennifer Brockway
Skowhegan, ME. “Goldthread in bloom at Eaton Ridge Preserve.” | Photo: Jennifer Brockway
Fawn Photo: Sandy Grover
Newfield, NY. “I almost tripped on this little one.” | Photo: Sandy Grover
Morning Woods Photo: John Blaser
Adirondacks, NY. “Early morning in the woods, Little Tupper Lake, William C. Whitney Wilderness.” | Photo: John Blaser
Swamp Sparrow Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex, VT. “Swamp sparrow and its reflection.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Starflower Photo: Stephen Fox
Canterbury, NH. “Starflower in Hutchins Forest.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Ovenbird Photo: Ellen Snyder
Jackson, NH. “Ovenbird nest with three eggs.” | Photo: Ellen Snyder
Boulder Photo: Geoffrey Bluh
Ashfield, MA. “A large glacial erratic boulder can be seen at the Bullitt Reservation … Trees growing around it give the impression of it being wedged in place.” | Photo: Geoffrey Bluh
Rodent Jaw Photo: Kirk Gentalen
(First of two images) Vinalhaven, ME. “Rodent jaw, from 'old' saw-whet owl pellet.” | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Sparrow Photo: Kirk Gentalen
(Second of two images) Vinalhaven, ME. “White-throated sparrow head. Remains of a saw-whet owl kill.” | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Kestrel Photo: Tami Gingrich
Parkman, OH. “Kestrel chick - this American kestrel nestling has one thing on her mind...an imminent fledging!” | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Fringed polygala Photo: Amy Girardi
Cresco, PA. “Native spring ephemeral, the fringed polygala also called bird on the wing in bloom in the moist woods behind our PA home.” | Photo: Amy Girardi
Cowbird Photo: Patricia Sweitzer
Monson, MA. “An invasive brown-headed cowbird, known for shirking its nesting duties, trying to borrow space for its hatchling.” | Photo: Patricia Sweitzer
Black Bear Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Black bear looks up from the clover in an old log landing.” | Photo: AM Dannis
Rainbow Photo: Stephen Fox
Pittsburg, NH. “Taken at First Connecticut Lake.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Hiking trail Photo: Rodney and Amy Johnson
Lake Luzerne, NY. “These two photos were taken by my daughter Amy. We hiked a new trail up Potash Mountain on the Harris Preserve here in Lake Luzerne. Wasn’t it Newton who said, ‘What goes up must come down.’?” | Photo: Rodney and Amy Johnson
Squirrel corn Photo: AM Dannis
(First of two images) Dalton, NH. “Squirrel corn close up. Compared to Dutchman's breeches (next image). Despite the very similar greenery, the flowers are very different!” | Photo: AM Dannis
Dutchmans Breeches Photo: AM Dannis
(Second of two images) Dalton, NH. “Dutchman's breeches up close. Compared to squirrel corn. Despite the very similar greenery, the flowers are very different!” | Photo: AM Dannis
Stonewall garden Photo: Kathryn Green
Canaan, NH. “Stone wall garden enhanced by collections from nature.” | Photo: Kathryn Green
Tennessee Warbler Photo: Ben Metcalf
Brookfield, VT. “Tennessee warbler among apple blossoms.” | Photo: Ben Metcalf
Mayfly Photo: Cheryl Metcalf
Mooselookmeguntic Lake, ME. “Mayfly hatch on Mooselookmeguntic Lake.” | Photo: Cheryl Metcalf
Barred owlet Photo: Gary Campbell
(First of two images) Jefferson, ME. “Barred owlet.” | Photo: Gary Campbell
Barred owlet Photo: Gary Campbell
(Second of two images) Jefferson, ME. Siblings sharing a perch. | Photo: Gary Campbell
Ruby throated hummingbird Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “Ruby-throated hummingbirds returned in early May. This male was preening in the early morning.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz

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