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June 8th, 2022 Reader Photo Gallery

May 2022

Our May photo gallery conveys the warmth of the approaching summer, with bright blue skies providing the backdrop in images of an American kestrel and a red columbine. Photos of efts, cedar apple rust, and a blackburnian warbler show orange accents in each forest layer, visible to those who take time to look. Scroll through these pictures to find an ermine, red fox, and black bear – all looking at you. And take a moment to gaze into the eyespots of a polyphemus moth. Many thanks to the photographers who set out into the woods from Mattamiscontis Township, Maine, to Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania, to share their discoveries with us.

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

American ermine Photo: Denise LaPerriere
Harwinton, CT. “This little American ermine popped out of the rock wall next to my patio door to show me how cute it is!” | Photo: Denise LaPerriere
Mayfly Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “Mayflies of many species are beloved by trout and those who fish for them.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
ladyslippers Photo: Robert Lord
Buckland, MA. “Lady’s slippers and mayflowers.” | Photo: Robert Lord
Common Loon Photo: Jane MacKugler
Londonderry, VT. “Common loon.” | Photo: Jane MacKugler
Palm warbler Photo: Angela Stanley
Mattamiscontis TWP, ME. “Palm warbler.” | Photo: Angela Stanley
Bear on fence Photo: Ann Robin
Quechee, VT. “Just a bear chillin’! He was actually rocking his leg back and forth!” | Photo: Ann Robin
Bluets Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Littleton, NH. “Bluets. In the lower right corner, there can be seen a yellow crab spider waiting for prey.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Preening Photo: Ross Lanius
Hamden, CT. “Caught this great blue heron preening in the golden evening light.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
May Fox Photo: Chris D’Angelo
Eliot, ME. “A red fox right after a successful hunt beneath our bird feeders on May 8. This fox has been visiting our property in Eliot almost every morning for a couple of months, but this was the first time we've seen it catch something. Hoping to see some kits with her.” | Photo: Chris D’Angelo
Blackburnian warbler Photo: Sheri Larsen
Newburyport, MA. Blackburnian warbler. “Seen on Plum Island at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The warbler was passing through on its way north.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Sunset Photo: Leif Tillotson
Swanton, VT. On the water. | Photo: Leif Tillotson
Waterlily Photo: Jane MacKugler
Londonderry, VT. “First water lily of 2022.” | Photo: Jane MacKugler
Barred owlet Photo: Maryellen Dolan
Salem, MA. “Barred owlet branching out of the nest cavity.” | Photo: Maryellen Dolan
Eastern newt Photo: Andrei Burnin
West Lebanon, NH. “Eastern newt (eft) hunting.” | Photo: Andrei Burnin
Groundhog Photo: Ann Griffin
Lancaster, NH. “Enjoying No Mow May.” | Photo: Ann Griffin
Gull Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Damariscotta Mills, ME. “The gulls love feeding on the alewives at the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder.” | Photo: Paula Jean Schlax
Bird watching Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Elimsport, PA. “Bird watchers searching for migrating warblers on state game lands.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Canada geese Photo: Irina N. Burnina
West Lebanon, NH. “Canada goose family on Grafton Pond.” | Photo: Irina N. Burnina
Baskettail Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. “Baskettail dragonfly.” | Photo: Larry Litke
American kestrel Photo: Eric D’Aleo
Plymouth, NH. “American kestrel in flight near its nest.” | Photo: Eric D’Aleo
Garter snake Photo: Jeremy Withnell
Norfolk, CT. “Garter snake sunning itself on a trail in Great Mountain Forest, Northwest Connecticut.” | Photo: Jeremy Withnell
Magnolia Warbler Photo: Sheri Larsen
Newburyport, MA. “A male magnolia warbler seen on Plum Island at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The warbler was passing through on its way north.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Bear Photo: Karen Lessard Bruder
T3 R12, ME. “Yearling cub waiting while Mom eats a delicious dandelion salad.” | Photo: Karen Lessard Bruder
Bear Photo: Karen Lessard Bruder
T3 R12, ME. “Yearling cub-tired of waiting for Mom.” | Photo: Karen Lessard Bruder
Painted trillium Photo: Jonas Gerson
Cambridge, VT. Painted trillium. | Photo: Jonas Gerson
Turtle Photo: Tom Grett
Lancaster County, PA. First of Three. “Yesterday, May 1st, my wife Nancy and I took a delightful morning walk along a stream and these are the pics I took.” | Photo: Tom Grett
Turtle Photo: Tom Grett
Lancaster County, PA. Second of Three. “Things are greening up fast here in southern Pennsylvania.” | Photo: Tom Grett
Turtle Photo: Tom Grett
Lancaster County, PA. Third of Three. “Isn’t spring just wonderful?!” | Photo: Tom Grett
Blue flag iris Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Muncy, PA. “A blue flag iris blooms on a pond shore in Muncy Pennsylvania’s Heritage Park.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Eastern cottontail Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. “Eastern cottontail with its favorite weed!” | Photo: Larry Litke
Columbine Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “Columbine flower.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Hummingbird Photo: Jen Danly
Woodstock, VT. “Male ruby-throated hummingbird perched on fothergilla.” | Photo: Jen Danly
Trilliums Photo: Ron Becker
Highland Forest, Fabius, NY. “Red trilliums, also known as wake robin.” | Photo: Ron Becker
Tiger swallowtail Photo: Bonita R. Choly
Pownal, VT. Canadian tiger swallowtail | Photo: Bonita R. Choly
Yellow warbler Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “Yellow warbler seen at Colchester Pond, which is owned by the Winooski Valley Park Authority. The yellow warblers are summer residents at the pond.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Blueberry bumblebee Photo: Starlett Anderson
West Wardsboro, VT. “Blueberry being pollinated by a bumblebee over a field of ajuga.” | Photo: Starlett Anderson
American redstart Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. “American redstart. Male.” | Photo: Larry Litke
Red fox Photo: Tom Grett
Lancaster County, PA. “Peek-a-boo with a beautiful red fox. She was hunting mid-morning, presumably to bring food back to the den for her pups.” | Photo: Tom Grett
Luna moth Photo: Rodney and Amy Johnson
Lake Luzerne, NY. “All moths don’t ruin wool clothing…” | Photo: Rodney and Amy Johnson
Goose family Photo: Joe Eggleston
Randolph, NH. “My...Did you brush your beak this morning? This photo was taken in a small pond belonging to my wife's grandmother, during what appeared to be the goslings’ very first outing.” | Photo: Joe Eggleston
Red eft Photo: Annie Maloney
Meadville, PA. “Morning conversation with a red eft.” | Photo: Annie Maloney
Double rainbow Photo: Richard A. Philben
Shelburne, MA. “A double rainbow taken at Wheel View Farm. The rainbow was too large to capture in one frame!” | Photo: Richard A. Philben
Polyphemus moth Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “I was lucky to find this polyphemus moth. The parasitic flies introduced to control the spongy moth have almost wiped out several beloved species of native moths: luna, polyphemus, promethea, etc.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Maidenhair fern Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Maidenhair fern (Adiantum) begins to unfurl.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Wildflowers Photo: Starlett Anderson
West Wardsboro, VT. “Dicentra canadensis growing amongst ramps on a rocky slope.” | Photo: Starlett Anderson
May efts Photo: Dick Cary
Pocono Lake, PA. “Northern red salamander.” | Photo: Dick Cary
Jack in the pulpit Photo: Judy Sweet
Buckland, MA. “Jack in the pulpit thriving in the leaf litter.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Chestnut warbler Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. “Chestnut-sided warbler.” | Photo: Larry Litke
Bearcub Photo: Wes Ives
East Dummerston, VT. “Calling for her two cubs. (Cropped from trail camera)” | Photo: Wes Ives
Bear family Photo: Wes Ives
East Dummerston, VT. “Time to move on. (Cropped from trail camera)” | Photo: Wes Ives
Tiger swallowtail Photo: Jack Nelson
Windsor, MA. “Tiger swallowtails puddling.” | Photo: Jack Nelson
Bellwort flowers Photo: Bruce K. Flewelling
Leicester, VT. “Large-flowered bellwort.” | Photo: Bruce K. Flewelling
Doe Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Newly born whitetail fawn stashed by momma on a woodland trail.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Spotted sawyer Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “White-spotted sawyer.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Wild blue iris Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “Many wildflowers in bloom, including this wild iris.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Redeyed vireo Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. “Red-eyed vireo.” | Photo: Larry Litke
Cedar rust Photo: Louanne Nielsen
South Burlington, VT. “Cedar apple rust.” | Photo: Louanne Nielsen
Ruffed grouse eggs Photo: Matt Wamsganz
Hampton, NY. “Ruffed grouse nest that I discovered by almost stepping on the mother!” | Photo: Matt Wamsganz
Virginia Ctenucha Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “What happens when he reaches the end of the blade of grass? (Virginia ctenucha caterpillar).” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Eft leaves Photo: Cheryl Metcalf
Tunbridge, VT. “A red eft hides under leaf litter, patiently waiting for insects to eat.” | Photo: Cheryl Metcalf

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