I hadn't been to Morris Island Conservation Area for over 20 years. What I remembered most was the huge spiders in the outhouse and the dragonflies.
No spiders this time, but the dragonflies were certainly still there. Halloween pennant, widow skimmer, male eastern poundhawk
The milkweed soldier bugs and ladybugs were busy procreating
One of many hickory tussock moth caterpillars that we have been seeing in many locations, was doing the backstroke after descending from an overhanging bush on the shoreline
We found several millipedes curled up on the trail
There weren't a lot of flowers blooming, but some that were: (scroll over for ID)
bindweed
morning glory
swamp milkweed
evening primrose
bread and butter
golden rod
indian pipe
soapwort
white meadowsweet
trillium remains
A few painted turtles were sunning themselves, including one whose shell was molting
A lone young map turtle was also up enjoying the sun
A baby finger sized toad was hiding in the leaf litter
Very few birds were showing themselves, but a phoebe posed for a photo
A few mushrooms had emerged from under the fallen leaves
