Summer into Autumn in Connecticut

Hello my blogging friends! 

What better way to begin than with a sunrise? This picture was taken at dawn, and shows a colorful sky with fog rising from the Watertown Hills. 

It was a beautiful summer and colorful autumn here in Connecticut. I still am not able to get out for daily nature walks, but I do get out for awhile on weekends, so I make the best of the time and enjoy what is possible. Below are some images of a few of nature's gifts that I've seen in the past couple of months...

   The sighting of this Long Tailed Weasel was a surprise for me. Isn't he adorable? 

This is a baby Clapper Rail. I heard more of them than ever before, but only actually saw them a couple of times. Generally, they stay hidden deep in the marsh grasses offering me only fleeting glimpses.   

  

Canada Goose 

  

Great Blue Heron

Savannah Sparrow

Red Tailed Hawk

Hammonasset State Park in CT had a number of confusing herons, leaving even some experienced birders wondering if they were looking at Little Blue Herons moving from white phase to blue, or if they were a mix of Little Blue and Tri-Colored Herons. I think this is a Little Blue, but I really am not sure. 

  

White Throated Sparrow

Close-up of a Red Tailed Hawk. Isn't she a beauty?

Chipping Sparrow

I don't know gulls... I just took a fancy to this one

The migration of Tree Swallows was impressive this year

I was excited to see this Bald Eagle one day in Madison. I hadn't seen one in the wild for several years 

Have you ever seen a tagged Monarch Butterfly? I hadn't! 

Glossy Ibis

   

Turkey

Lovely White Tailed Deer

Sunflower

Handsome Mallard Drake

  

American Kestrel (female)

Great Egret

  

A path in Litchfield

Eastern Cottontail

These deer where playing tag in Mom's backyard

  

Barn Swallow  

  

Double Crested Cormorant... check out that beautiful blue eye!

  

Black Crowned Night Heron 

Purple Martins

   Yellow Warbler

Yellow Shafted Flicker

  

Palm Warbler

Snowy Egret

Great Egret shaking out its feathers

Maple Leaves

Reflections

Snow Bunting

Horned Lark

White Winged Crossbill (male)

Autumn Color 

Female Red Crossbill

Barred Owl

Golden Woods

And yes! October snow again! And yes! After another hurricane! Crazy weather. This time the snow was only a few inches and it was gone very soon. 

Winter will be here soon, and if the fat little squirrel with its thick coat outside my window is any indication, perhaps we are in for a cold winter???

Of the four babies and Mama (from past posts), we now only have two of the youngsters left. 

Thank you for your visits, comments, and notes. I'm still not able to immerse myself into the blogging scene like the old days, but I sure do miss it.   I hope everything is going well for you all and I wish you a wonderful holiday season.