Summer!

With the solstice days away the Valley and surrounding region is reaching the peak of the summer season.

Spring newborns are everywhere. A mother turkey has a brood of 6 or more in the woods near our home. Young ravens are screeching as they soar along the ridge tops. Young groundhogs are moving into their own burrows. Chipmunks and red squirrels are busy in the duff on the ground and in the branches above. Butterflies abound. Lighting bugs are beginning to light up the evening woods. Sparrows, wrens and finches are exploring the grasses that are just going to seed. Snapping turtles are on the move. And, although we have not seen any just yet, fawns should be venturing from the woods and into the fields.

Deb and I took the occasion of fantastic weather to take a walk on the Sods with Tucker. The mountain laurel are in full bloom. We were continuously accompanied by pink-edged sulfur butterflies. A small covey of pheasants or woodcocks spring out of the trail ahead of us. A young finch landed on in a bush along our path and its mother quickly responded by darting at us trying to distract our attention.

I managed a few photos in an attempt at capturing a bit of what we saw.

Deb resting on her laurels.