Cromwell Meadows: Cromwell, CT (7/7)

I rolled out of bed on Saturday the 7th wanting to take a quick morning hike. Since Cromwell Meadows is right around the corner from my house and I hadn't been there in a few weeks, I decided that it would be my destination.

It was still early morning when I got there and the property was empty (as usual). The sun was out and the temperature was starting to rise so I thought a walk thru the woods would be good. But I only got a 1/4 mile or so down the trail before the mosquitoes enveloped me. So, I turned around and headed back to the parking lot.

I didn't want to leave so I decided to try another area. I walked down one of the access roads which ran parallel to the river. The beginning stretch of the road runs by a marshy area filled with reeds. I noticed a few Purple Loosestrife plants had started to "invade" the area. They were particularly beautiful covered in morning dew.

After passing by the marsh, the road quickly transitioned back into the woods again. For some reason there were no mosquitoes in this area though. Maybe it was just later in the morning and the sun had forced them to retreat.

Anyhow, the walk was nice if not full of activity. There were a few sparrow here and there plus some other common birds but nothing special. The butterflies were a little better. I found a few Appalachian Browns, a Red Admiral or two, and one Eastern Comma. Near the end of the road I found a couple Eastern Cottontails which posed for me for a minute or two before I got too close and scared them into the bushes.