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WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE From late May to the end of August 2021 the weather in central Worcester County was truly something to talk about. An abnormally cold and rainy Memorial Day weekend was the beginning of a roller-coaster pattern. Summer started off dry, and then very hot temperatures alternating with occasional cool spells managed to keep us guessing about what to expect from week to week. A constant theme was rain and more rain. Massachusetts may break the record for the wettest summer, according to various sources. As of August 25th,Worcester had the fourth wettest summer with 20.64 inches of rain. We can speculate about the effect of the see-saw precipitation, temperature, humidity, etc. on our plants, insects, birds, and other wild creatures. 
Mallard hen in flight. Mallards are abundant in central Massachusetts, in both high-water and low-water years. Photo by Alan Rawle, Hardwick.
Song Sparrows thrive in wet areas, as long as they manage to situate their nests far enough above the high water line. Nests are placed on the ground or in shrubs as high up as 15 feet. Photo by Alan Rawle, Hardwick, 20 June.
Water was present in places where it's dry or slightly damp most years. Sections of rails like this one at Moore State Park in mid-July were inundated. Photo by Bill Platenik.
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A great year for ducks! Many Wood Duck pairs raised two broods. Doug Wipf found this hen with ducklings in Rutland on 8 July.
Juvenile Hooded Mergansers in Rutland 25 June. Photo by Doug Wipf.
A successful Song Sparrow nesting was confirmed in Hardwick on 26 June when a begging fledgling (left) was seen being fed by one of its parents right). Photo by Alan Rawle. This species generally raises 2-3 broods per season in our region.
Given the conditions, frogs weren't hard to find during summer 2021. But Bill Platenik of Brimfield was astonished to find this Green Frog in a drainage area in his Brimfield yard, about 1/8 mile from any wild wet areas.
Wetlands-lovers Common Yellowthroats had plenty of habitat to choose from this season. Photo by Doug Wipf, 21 July.
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 Majestic Interrupted Fern (Claytosmunda claytoniana), the only species in this genus, was photographed in June by Doug Wipf.  Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). Some Native American tribes used various parts of this plant in herbal remedies for certain ailments, and Native American men also rubbed crushed seeds on their hands as a love charm. Photo by Doug Wipf. |  Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis), so named by early American settlers due to its sensitivity to frost. Photo by Doug Wipf.  One species of moth that flies early in the season is Crocus Geometer (Xanthotype sospeta). Photo by Alan Rawle. |  Brown rot fungus on dead wood with New York Fern (Parathelypteris noveboracensis). This fern often forms spreading colonies. Photo by Doug Wipf.  Round-leaved Pyrola or American Wintergreen ( Pyrola americana) blooming in Petersham on 27 June. The heat and humidity of the season spurred plant growth in general. |
 On 9 June Pam Moen found this Painted Turtle laying eggs in her yard in the Templeton area. Myriad factors determine egg survival and hatching time.  Painted Turtle basking in Hardwick on 20 June. Photo by Alan Rawle.  Great Blue Herons and wetlands go hand-in-hand. This season's conditions replenished shallow ponds and reservoirs brought low by the droughts in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Photo by Doug Wipf, Rutland, 25 June.  A female Blackburnian Warbler eyes the photographer, Alan Rawle, on 2 June. |  Some Painted Turtle eggs will hatch in the fall, others in spring. This hatchling was one of two found in Hardwick on 8 May.  This hatchling--same as above-- was found wandering on a driveway close to its "home pond" and was carried to a spot close to the pond. Photo by Alan Rawle.  Great Crested Flycatcher in Rutland on 25 June. Photo by Doug Wipf.  Red-spotted Admiral, Red-spotted Purple form (Limenitis arthemis) found by Ted Purcell in August. |
 Hummingbird clearwing moths (Hemaris thysbe) collect nectar from a wide variety of flowers using a long proboscis while hovering above the bloom. They show a preference for pink and purple flowers. Several including this one were in Hardwick in July.  White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata) in Ashburnham 15 August. |  Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa) in Petersham 27 June. Although odonate numbers in general seemed to be down this summer, certain local populations, like this species on the east shore of Quabbin Reservoir, appeared to be robust.  Cass Meadow Conservation Area in Athol hosted numerous pollinators like this Brown-winged Striped-Sweat Bee (Agapostemon splendens) in vast fields of Joe-Pye-Weed, but butterflies and odonates were scarce in early August. Photo by Alan Rawle on 7 August. |  Common Green Darner (Anax junius) by Ted Purcell, 5 July. As this web-page is being published, large swarms of this species are migrating south after spending the summer here.  Yellow-legged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinumin) Hardwick on 1 August. |
 A male Northern Walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata) was found by Doug Wipf on 15 August in Rutland.  Monarch butterflies appeared to be having a good year. Sightings of caterpillars and adults throughout August were frequent. Photo by Doug Wipf.  This Bobcat visited Doug Wipf's Rutland yard on 27 June. |  American Coppers (Lycaena phlaeas) and other insects, including a scarab beetle, in Sterling, 5 July. Photo by Alan Rawle.  Bill Platenik's Brimfield trail cam video captured this daytime image of a Bobcat on 4 July. |