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October 7th, 2025 Reader Photo Gallery

September 2025

Despite a dry summer, September’s photos showcased nature’s resilience and generosity. In Franklin, Vermont, Leif Tillotson captured a heavily laden apple tree. Stephanie Coyne DeGhett of Potsdam, New York, came across a vibrant chicken of the woods mushroom, while in Isle au Haut, Maine, Katherine Fiveash discovered a striped fishing spider guarding her large egg sac.

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This gallery is made possible through generous support from R. Timothy Larsen / Larsen Fund.

Aurora Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Rangeley, ME. “Light aurora colors on the pond.” | Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Great egret Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “A great egret squawking at something on Dragon Pond.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Pearl crescent Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “Bearing the colors of a monarch, the pearl crescent flies into the fall but doesn’t migrate.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Leopard frog Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “A very camouflaged leopard frog at Delta Park at the mouth of the Winooski River.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Beavers Photo: Amy Quist
Whitingham, VT. “First time I’ve encountered beavers sitting along the shoreline, let alone two of them!” | Photo: Amy Quist
Fringed gentians Photo: Tammis Coffin
Berkshire County, MA. “Fringed gentians tucked in the grasses, ferns, sedges, and rushes in a calcareous fen.” | Photo: Tammis Coffin
Deadfall sprouts Photo: Stephen Fox
Canterbury, NH. “Most years this deadfall sprouts only fungi and moss. This year it added trees to its nursery.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Hawk rescue Photo: Kelly Stettner
Springfield, VT. “Beautiful broad-winged hawk rescued after apparent impact with a car.” | Photo: Kelly Stettner
Frog doorknob Photo: George Briggs
Leicester, NY. “Let me in!!” | Photo: George Briggs
Saddleback caterpillar Photo: Christine Young
Sharon, CT. “Parasitized saddleback caterpillar with two tachinid eggs on its rear, left tubercle. I reared the parasitoids to adulthood.” | Photo: Christine Young
Chicken of the woods Photo: Stephanie Coyne DeGhett
Potsdam, NY. “Chicken of the woods.” | Photo: Stephanie Coyne DeGhett
Texas falls Photo: Ken Hatch
Hancock, VT. “Texas Falls in the Green Mountain National Forest was carved out about 12,000 years ago by the last glacier.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Swallowtail caterpillar Photo: Carolyn Wheeler
Shelburne, MA. “This swallowtail caterpillar was on one of my plants. The large false eye spots help to deter predators. The small head and eyes are underneath out of sight. This will turn into a yellow swallowtail butterfly.” | Photo: Carolyn Wheeler
Panicled aster Photo: Liz Thompson
Williston, VT. “Panicled aster at sunset.” | Photo: Liz Thompson
Sawfly Photo: Dawn Brooks
Richmond, MA. “A (rather cute) adult dusky birch sawfly looks on while several larvae pause eating to assume defensive postures.” | Photo: Dawn Brooks
Deer antler Photo: David Nallett
Chilmark, MA. “Deer antler drop discovered along a stone wall.” | Photo: David Nallett
Log fungi Photo: Lynette Reep
Starksboro, VT. “Fungus growing in a hollow log. We stepped over it, oblivious, on the way up the trail; on the way down, it was perfectly spot-lit by an afternoon sunbeam.” | Photo: Lynette Reep
Snapping turtle Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “A snapping turtle found wandering the edge of a small local pond.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Beaver Photo: Amy Quist
Whitingham, VT. “While launching my kayak at Harriman Reservoir, a beaver kept a close eye on my movements.” | Photo: Amy Quist
Bear prints Photo: Laura Flight
Sandy River Plantation, ME. “We think this is a double bear paw print, where a front paw print was mostly covered by a rear paw print? Plus, a coyote print!” | Photo: Laura Flight
Cormorant Photo: Ross Lanius
Hamden, CT. “Normally I see double-crested cormorants perched by the water’s edge. But this one suddenly flew by me and I was able to capture it in flight.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Jewelweed Photo: Susan Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Jewelweed.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Warbler Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “A black and white warbler getting ready to migrate.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Water snake Photo: Jen Adams
North Conway, NH. “Water snake, Pudding Pond Trail.” | Photo: Jen Adams
Fern frond Photo: John Blaser
Lake Lila, William C. Whitney Wilderness Area, Adirondacks, NY. “Fern frond closeup.” | Photo: John Blaser
Monarch Photo: Jeff Pickett
Cumberland Center, ME. “Monarch, just hatched out on a boat cover.” | Photo: Jeff Pickett
Fishing spider Photo: Katherine Fiveash
Isle au Haut, ME. “This is the striped fishing spider carrying her egg sac.” | Photo: Katherine Fiveash
Northern blue iris Photo: Kirk T. Gentalen
Tenants Harbor, ME. “Northern blue flag seed pods are so cool.” | Photo: Kirk T. Gentalen
Arrow clubtail Photo: Ken Hatch
Windsor, VT. “I found this arrow clubtail high up on Mt. Ascutney. As nymphs they live in a few large rivers, this one would have come from the Connecticut River.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Turtlehead Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “Bumble bee pokes its head inside a wild white turtlehead flower at Colchester Pond Natural Area.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Loaded apples Photo: Leif Tillotson
Franklin, VT. A loaded apple tree. | Photo: Leif Tillotson
Ants on obedience Photo: Liz Thompson
Laval, Quebec, Canada. “Ants feeding on nectar of obedience plant.” | Photo: Liz Thompson
Syrphid fly Photo: Christine Young
Sharon, CT. “Syrphid fly with extraordinary mouthparts!” | Photo: Christine Young
Cedar waxwing Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Trout Run, PA. “Numbers of cedar waxwings arrived to feed on ripening berries.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Thread-waisted wasp Photo: Lynette Reep
Burlington, VT. “Thread-waisted wasp at sunset, mandibles clamped to its preferred weed stalk, fast asleep.” | Photo: Lynette Reep
Vireo Photo: Marie Rainville
Franklin, VT. “Red eyed vireo, Lake Carmi State Park.” | Photo: Marie Rainville
Red meadowhawk Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Lyman, NH. “A mating pair of red meadowhawk dragonflies near the edge of a local pond.” | Photo: Frank Kaczmarek
Split rock Photo: Jack Nelson
Ashfield, MA. “Yellow birch, nature’s stone cutter.” | Photo: Jack Nelson
Herald moth Photo: Sandy Miklas Dannis
Dalton, NH. “A well-concealed herald moth.” | Photo: Sandy Miklas Dannis
September loons Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Rangeley, ME. “We went back to a pond in Rangeley to visit a loon family this September. We were so happy to see a healthy chick, still learning the ropes and being fed by a parent.” | Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Steam mill brook Photo: Judy Sweet
Walden, VT. “Autumn colors bathed in afternoon sunlight at Steam Mill Brook Wildlife Management Area.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Moon mist Photo: Tom Nold
Vermontville, NY. “Morning moon-set on Loon Lake.” | Photo: Tom Nold
Monarch Photo: Sheri Larsen
Colchester, VT. “A monarch butterfly on Joe Pye weed at Colchester Pond Natural Area.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Sphinx caterpillar Photo: Christine Young
Sharon, CT. “This gorgeous caterpillar was crawling through the leaf litter, probably looking for the perfect spot to burrow into the soil and pupate.” | Photo: Christine Young
Dry crossing Photo: Joyce Layne
Wild River Valley, NH. “Usually a tricky crossing of the Wild River on the Moriah Brook Trail. No need to worry about getting your feet wet this year.” | Photo: Joyce Layne
Jelly tooth Photo: Kirk T. Gentalen
Vinalhaven, ME. “Jelly tooth undercarriage.” | Photo: Kirk T. Gentalen
Turkeys Photo: Amy Johnson
Lake Luzerne, NY. “The deer and turkeys have become almost daily visitors.” | Photo: Amy Johnson
Turkey vulture Photo: Amy Quist
Charlemont, MA. “A turkey vulture looms large up in the trees.” | Photo: Amy Quist
Hosmer brook Photo: Ken Hatch
Groton, VT. “Stillwater Brook and Owls Head Mountain in Groton State Forest.” | Photo: Ken Hatch

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