Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

September 25, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

As summer shifts into autumn at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the lotus flowers that had taken over the two main pools finally lost their blooms, leaving behind a sea of horn-shaped seed pods. Hiding among the lotus plants, there were a number of herons, including this young great blue heron.

 

Juvenile Great Blue Heron under Lotus Leaves

 

Adding a touch of whimsy, a dragonfly landed on the heron’s bill.

Dragonfly Perched on the Bill of a Great Blue Heron

 

On several visits, I spotted a great egret from a distance, but it remained elusive. It was only on my most recent Monday visit that I was fortunate enough to see this beautiful bird at close range.

Great Egret  

 

Bright and breezy, the leaves had begun to turn. Walking around the pools I was greeted by a variety of wildlife including mallards and black ducks, Canada geese, brightly colored insects, painted turtles, and a leopard frog.

9-Spotted Leaf Beetle and Ruby Meadowhawk Leopard Frog

 

Milkweed seed pods along the side of the path were covered in bright orange milkweed beetles.

Milkweed Beetles  

 

On the bank of the Concord River near the lower pool, a juvenile double-crested cormorant was taking in the sun.

  Double-crested Cormorant, Juvenile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Comments

No comments posted.
Loading...

Archive
January February March April May June July August September (1) October (3) November December (1)
January February March April May June July August September October November (2) December
January February March April (1) May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August (1) September (1) October November December
January February March April (1) May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July (1) August (1) September October November December
January (1) February March April May (1) June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December