Weather turned summery with winds from the southwest, high humidity, temperature in the 80s and a hot sun whose effect was somewhat mitigated by an increasing cloud cover. No martins or swallows on the marsh; a few Martins overhead but the Bay Avenue colony seems to have been closed up for the winter. I have seen big flocks of Purple Martins in the Pine Barrens at this time of the year which is apparently one of their favorite places to flock up before heading for warmer climes.
Queen Anne's Lace is in full midsummer bloom and one of the goldenrods (probably Solidago rugosa or Rough-stemmed Goldenrod) is coming into bloom in a few spots away from the water.
This has not been a particularly good butterfly year. Besides the common Cabbage Butterfly, the most notable flyer has been the Tiger Swallowtail followed by the Spicebush Swallowtail and American Copper. Not a particularly good year for Vanessa butterflies which have turned up in recent years in some numbers. (If I'm not mistaken the considerable numbers seen in some years are mostly migrants as these butterflies perform considerable migrations from time to time.). However I have seen a few Red Admirals and, this morning an American Painted Lady landed on the path right in front of me and proceeded to close its wings, showing off the features that distinguish it from the other Painted Lady.
A couple of nighttime audio notes: Katydids are in full voice in the early evening and a Screech Owl has been calling in the middle of the night.
Eric Salzman
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