Summer 2020 Potpourri

An adult Osprey brings a partially eaten fish to a nest in Warren. Three hungry young birds are waiting! Eastern Kingbirds nested nearby, and this male followed and harassed the Osprey for more than 100 yards as the Osprey approached its nest. Photo by Bill Platenik.

A porcupine dining in Petersham, 25 August 2020. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) in Petersham on 8 August. Nurture the violets in your yard and garden. Various species of native violets have been reported to serve as a larval host plant for this species. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 8 August 2020. One of the most persistent singers in the breeding season, often singing into late August, buntings learn their songs as youngsters from nearby males, but not from their fathers. Learn more at allaboutbirds.org. Photo by Alan Rawle.

This photo was taken about 4 weeks before the young--shown here with one of the adults--left the nest.

American parasol mushroom (Leucocoprinus americana) cluster found in late August. Considered edible, but only with great caution: young specimens of this species look enough like the highly toxic green gill mushroom (Chlorophyllum molybdites) that there is great danger of fatal error. Photo by Alan Rawle.

A Great-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) on the alert for insect prey in Rutland. Unlike other flycatchers in our area, this species nests in cavities of all kinds. Photo by Anne Greene.

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Female Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) photographed by Anne Greene. Seen near waterways, this species is a strong flier, even in rain and wind.

Immature male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Hardwick, 25 August. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Bright male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) in Rutland. Photo by Anne Greene.

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) in North Brookfield, August. Photo by Alan Rawle.

The American Copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas) has at least three overlapping broods in central Massachusetts, and can be found from May through October. This individual was found on 20 August 2020 by Alan Rawle.

A late summer Spring Pepper (Pseudacris crucifer) peeping through a window in Hardwick. Photo by Wendy Howes.

A Great-horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) was a surprise afternoon visitor in Rutland on August 14th. Photo by Anne Greene.

Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) are becoming adept at exploiting various sugar water sources. Photo by Anne Greene.

A juvenile Barred Owl (Strix varia) chose to keep an eye on the area around Bill Platenik's compost pile for a couple of days in July, probably hoping for the appearance of a rodent meal.

Despite a moderate drought throughout the summer, the fungi show from late August through October was impressive. Shaggy scalecap mushrooms (Pholiota squarrosa) grow in clumps on hardwood trees, like this cluster found in Petersham on 23 August. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii) on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) seed pod. This insect's primary sources of nutrients are flower nectar and milkweed seeds. Photo by Alan Rawle, August 2020.

A Yellowjacket (Vespula sp.) shares air space with a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Luckily, both animals are eminently capable of maneuvering to avoid a collision. Photo by Anne Greene.

A begging Tree Swallow chick and arriving adult were photographed by Bill Platenik at Moore State Park in Paxton.

An immature male Ruby-throated Hummingbird checks out the nectar potential of a passion flower in Rutland. Immature hummingbirds can be observed probing and exploring a variety of both nectar-producing and non-nectar-producing plants as they learn and grow. Photo by Anne Greene.