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June 13th, 2023 Reader Photo Gallery

May 2023

Your May images showed spring in full fling. In Rockingham, Vermont, Chantal Caron observed a downy woodpecker chick (no doubt complaining about its parents’ slow food service) and in Bowdoinham, Maine, Laurie Haines enjoyed her first-ever sighting of fringed polygala. Meanwhile, in coastal Connecticut - on two separate occasions - Ross Lanius set off to take photos of one species, only to have those species’ predators change his photography plans. Check out Pat Liddle’s before-and-after images of a gray fox track and her plaster cast of the track – and if you’d like to learn how she did this, see her article in the spring issue of Northern Woodlands magazine.

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

Yellow warbler Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “Yellow warbler singing in the breeze.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Red squirrel Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. “Red squirrel - reaching for high c.” | Photo: Larry Litke
White Oak Photo: Collin Miller
Tompkins, NY. “BEWARE! The white oak monster.” (Is it singing, too?) | Photo: Collin Miller
Woodpecker chick Photo: Chantal Caron
Rockingham, VT. “Downy woodpecker chick.” | Photo: Chantal Caron
Rainbow Photo: Ken Hatch
Bethel, VT. “Rainbow on the first day of May.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Bull moose Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Bull moose spotted right after sunset on a warm May evening as he headed to the beaver impoundments at a cedar bog.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Poplar mosaic Photo: George Briggs
Leicester, NY. “Colorful poplar wood.” | Photo: George Briggs
Fringed polygala Photo: Laurie Haines
Bowdoinham, ME. “While walking at Center Point Preserve, I saw my first ever fringed polygala, aka bird-on-the wing, aka Polygala paucifolia. They were in sunny spots at the side of the trail.” | Photo: Laurie Haines
Orb Weaver Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “One of the first spiders of the year: a six-spotted orb weaver.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Black bear Photo: Amy Quist
Heath, MA. “A bear came around the yard just as I was headed out the front door. Timing is everything!” | Photo: Amy Quist
Fox tracks Photo: Pat Liddle
First of two images. Canaan, NY. “Gray fox track.” | Photo: Pat Liddle
Gray fox cast Photo: Pat Liddle
Canaan, NY. “Plaster cast of gray fox print.” | Photo: Pat Liddle
Bluebird Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “This bluebird has landed with a worm for its brood.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Lunch break Photo: Don Wharton
Johnsburg, NY. “Lunch break at Adirondack trout pond.” | Photo: Don Wharton
Bunchberry Photo: Stephen Fox
Canterbury, NH. “Bunchberry.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Jack in the pulpit Photo: Bekky Honkala
Wilmington, NY. “Jack-in-the-pulpit.” | Photo: Bekky Honkala
Baltimore oriole Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “An immature male Baltimore oriole visible from the trail around Colchester Pond Natural Area.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Marsh marigolds Photo: Bob Schatz
Addison, VT. “Marsh marigold.” | Photo: Bob Schatz
Grackle Photo: Peter Hollinger
Sharon, VT. “Subtly beautiful grackle.” | Photo: Peter Hollinger
Birch catkins Photo: Debra Clough
Grafton, NH. A birch tree laden with catkins on Rattlesnake Mountain. | Photo: Debra Clough
Bobcat resting Photo: Barry Wicklow
Francestown, NH. “Bobcat resting on a patch of moss.” | Photo: Barry Wicklow
Lady slippers Photo: Tom Grett
Northern Adirondacks, NY. A pink lady’s slipper, discovered blooming in the northern Adirondacks. | Photo: Tom Grett
Gall midge Photo: Deborah DeSalvo
Bedminster, NJ. “Maple with chicken pox?” A maple eye-spot gall midge infestation. | Photo: Deborah DeSalvo
Blue cohosh Photo: Judy Sweet
Buckland, MA. “Blue cohosh’s intricate tiny flowers in various stages of bloom.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Common yellowthroat Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. “Common yellowthroat among apple blossoms.” | Photo: Larry Litke
Painted trillium Photo: Laurie Haines
Bowdoinham, ME. “While walking at Center Point Preserve, I saw my first ever painted trillium which was standing tall in a mixed forest at the edge of the trail.” | Photo: Laurie Haines
Pink striped oakworm Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “Pink-striped oakworm moth (female).” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Downy woodpecker Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “Downy woodpecker on an old fence-post.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Tadpoles Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Tadpoles galore! They even have a floating isopod snack bar nearby (lower right-hand corner)!!” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Red winged blackbird Photo: Ross Lanius
Hamden, CT. “While I was photographing geese on Lake Whitney this female red-winged blackbird was catching dragonflies and landing in this bush near me. This went on for at least 10 minutes. While I did not see the nest, I suspect she was feeding her brood.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Rare trillium Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “A rare patch of white trillium -- also known as wake-robin.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Hummingbird egg Photo: Jay Remington
Bedford, MA. Summer treasure. | Photo: Jay Remington
Gopher Photo: Jen Danly
Woodstock, VT. “My nemesis.” | Photo: Jen Danly
Trout lilies Photo: Jen Adams
Campton, NH. “Early May trout lilies.” | Photo: Jen Adams
Tree swallows Photo: Sheri Larsen
Williston, VT. “Tree swallows staying close to the nest in a box at Catamount Community Forest.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Maidenhair fern Photo: Mary S. Landon
Colchester, VT. “Discovered this maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) at Niquette Bay State Park. Although common, this miniature fern is a favorite find.” | Photo: Mary S. Landon
Lake scene Photo: Leif Tillotson
Swanton, VT. Lake scene. | Photo: Leif Tillotson
Red trillium Photo: Tom Grett
Northern Adirondacks, NY. Red trillium, also known as purple trillium or wake robin. | Photo: Tom Grett
Coyote Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “While sitting photographing a turkey, out of the corner of my eye I see this coyote heading towards the turkey. She passed very close to me, the picture was not cropped. She wanted a meal but the turkey saw her and flew away.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Catbird Photo: Chantal Caron
Rockingham, VT. “Gray catbird.” | Photo: Chantal Caron
Wild chokecherries Photo: Mary S. Landon
Shelburne, VT. “The wild chokecherries (Prunus virginiana) are in bloom.” | Photo: Mary S. Landon
Chipping sparrow Photo: Amy Quist
Heath, MA. “A chipping sparrow gathers nesting material.” | Photo: Amy Quist
Witch hazel seeds Photo: Judy Sweet
Buckland, MA. “Native witch hazel leafing out, while last year's slowly maturing seed casings share space on the branches.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Ovenbird nest Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Muncy, PA. “Ovenbird nests are very well concealed -- I almost stepped on this one.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
May loon Photo: Laurie Haines
Bowdoinham, ME. “We have a pair of loons on Caesar Pond who will hopefully have a successful nesting season.” | Photo: Laurie Haines
Swallowtail butterfly Photo: Sharon Bombard
Lanesborough, MA. “Swallowtail butterfly on the honeysuckle that seems to be blooming just about everywhere right now.” | Photo: Sharon Bombard
Baskettail dragonfly Photo: Ken Hatch
Hartland, VT. “Baskettail dragonfly at Eshqua Bog.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Hummingbird Photo: Barry Wicklow
Francestown, NH. “Female ruby-throated hummingbird in flight showing white tips on outer tail feathers.” | Photo: Barry Wicklow
Pheasant back mushroom Photo: David Porter
Brooklin, ME. “This pheasant back mushroom has fruited every year on this stump for the past 15 years.” This fungus is also called dryad’s saddle. | Photo: David Porter
Thirsty duckling Photo: Richard Philben
Plainfield, MA. “Gosling seems to be going for a drink of water on Plainfield Pond.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Pink trilliums Photo: Bob Schatz
Addison, VT. “White trilliums turn pink just before dropping their petals.” | Photo: Bob Schatz
Sandpiper Photo: Larry Litke
Jeffersonville, VT. A beautiful image of a solitary sandpiper. | Photo: Larry Litke
Black bear cubs Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “We see you! One of two black bear cubs momma stashed 50 feet up a hemlock tree. We could hear her in the brush so we didn’t hang around for a better photo!” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Magnolia warbler Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “A magnolia warbler.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Common morel Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “Every spring a small section of my property sprouts a handful of common morel mushrooms.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Opossum Photo: Sheri Shaw
Middleton, NH. “Opossum foraging in the early morning. It was seen with two other opossums.” | Photo: Sheri Shaw
Grouse Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Quabbin Reservoir, MA. “Grouse came out of the brush along the dirt road where I was walking.” | Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Moth caterpillar Photo: Scott Wasserman
Putney, VT. An Io moth caterpillar (watch out – they sting!). | Photo: Scott Wasserman
Great horned owlets Photo: Deborah DeSalvo
Oldwick, NJ. “Great horned owlet, getting big!” | Photo: Deborah DeSalvo
Hobblebush Photo: Judy Sweet
Buckland, MA. “Hobblebush beginning to bloom in early May.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
American redstart Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex Town, VT. “A female American redstart on top of her nest in Woodside Natural Area. The nest was visible from a trail at Woodside. Materials from nearby cattails seem to have provided nest material.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Third quarter moon Photo: Amy Quist
Heath, MA. “Third quarter moon and its craters.” | Photo: Amy Quist
Red baneberry Photo: Mary S. Landon
Charlotte, VT. “Red baneberry (Actaea rubra), found in shady woods, will develop highly poisonous red berries.” | Photo: Mary S. Landon
Scarlet tanager Photo: Gordon Gould
Waterford, VT. “While on our daily woods walk my wife and I were enjoying watching a scarlet tanager doing a vigorous preening job.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Vibrant trillium Photo: Tom Grett
Northern Adirondacks, NY. An especially vibrant specimen of painted trillium. | Photo: Tom Grett
Box elder samaras Photo: Anonymous
Thetford, VT. Boxelder samaras. | Photo: Anonymous
Bald eagle Photo: Richard Philben
Plainfield, MA. “Seemed appropriate that I should celebrate at least part of Memorial Day weekend with a bald eagle on Plainfield Pond.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Bracket fungus Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Quabbin Reservoir, MA. “Laetiporus, genus of bracket fungus.” This is probably chicken of the woods mushroom. | Photo: Alfred J. Sorensen
Eastern phoebe Photo: Chantal Caron
Rockingham, VT. “Eastern phoebe.” | Photo: Chantal Caron
Yellow lady slipper Photo: Ken Hatch
Hartland, VT. “Yellow lady’s slipper at Eshqua Bog.” | Photo: Ken Hatch

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