Westchester

WPR Insects

Sherry Felix2 Comments

The first thing I saw at Ward Pond Ridge was a Cicada. I can’t tell which one of the hundreds of species it is. It is about 2 inches long.

Close-up view of a cicada perched on a yellow background, showcasing detailed features including its wings and body.
(Cicadomorpha) cicadas and leafhoppers, Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
Two beetles resting on green leaves in a natural setting.
Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a cicada resting on green leaves, showcasing its detailed body and antennae.
Differentialis (Differential Grasshopper), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up image of a brown spider on sandy ground, surrounded by small stones and debris.
Wolf Spider (Tigrosa helluo), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a bumblebee collecting pollen from a yellow flower with green leaves.
Common Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica virginica) on St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025

WPR Odonates

Sherry Felix8 Comments

These are slightly easier to identify than skippers.

A large black dragonfly with iridescent wings rests on a wooden branch above calm water, surrounded by green foliage.
Ebony Jewelwing (caloteryx muculata), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A dragonfly perched on a green leaf above shimmering water, showcasing its iridescent black wings and blue body.
Ebony Jewelwing (caloteryx muculata), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A striking damselfly perched on a wooden branch over water, showcasing iridescent blue-green coloration and dark wings.
Ebony Jewelwing (caloteryx muculata), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A serene water scene featuring dragonflies resting on floating vegetation, surrounded by reflective water and natural greenery.
Ebony Jewelwing (caloteryx muculata), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
Close-up view of a slender dragonfly resting on a rocky surface.
Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A dragonfly perched on a rocky surface, showcasing its intricate wings and body.
Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a dragonfly perched on a twig, captured in a vibrant green and blurred natural background.
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a dragonfly with striking yellow and black patterned wings, perched on a thin twig against a blurred green background.
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponia), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025

WPR Skippers

Sherry FelixLeave a comment

More from Ward Pound Ridge. These are so hard to identify, I bet I got some of them wrong. I would love some help correcting the labels.

Close-up of a dark butterfly perched on a green leaf, showcasing its detailed wings and antennae against a blurred green background.
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a butterfly perched on a green leaf next to small white flowers.
Silver-Spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A butterfly and a bee are perched on a cluster of flowers amidst green foliage.
Silver-Spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Common Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica virginica), and Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A brown butterfly perched on a cluster of white flowers, with lush green foliage blurred in the background.
Northern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia egeremet), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A brown moth feeding on white flowers surrounded by green leaves.
European skipper (Thymelicus lineola), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up photograph of a moth resting on a dried flower head surrounded by green foliage.
Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a brown butterfly resting on vibrant purple flowers.
Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
Close-up of a brown butterfly perched on a green leaf, with clear focus on its wings and antennae.
Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
Close-up of a vibrant orange butterfly perched on a purple flower among green grass.
Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a brown butterfly perched on pink flowers, surrounded by green foliage.
Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up view of a butterfly resting on a purple clover flower, surrounded by green foliage.
Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A butterfly perched on purple lavender flowers in a garden setting.
Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a brown butterfly perched on vibrant purple lavender flowers, with green foliage in the background.
Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a butterfly perched on vibrant purple flowers, showcasing its detailed wings and antennae.
Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025

WPR Butterflies

Sherry Felix14 Comments

I’ll be making 7 posts on Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Westchester, New York. I would love to get a seasonal pass but they only offer passes to Westchester residents. It is a good place to look for butterflies in the summer in between the Spring and Fall bird migration.

A close-up of a butterfly perched on a flower surrounded by green foliage.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A butterfly perched on a white flowering plant surrounded by green leaves.
Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up image of an orange and black butterfly perched on a cluster of white flowers with green foliage in the background.
Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A butterfly resting on a white flower amidst green foliage.
Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025
A close-up of a blue butterfly resting on a white flower, surrounded by green grass and foliage.
Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Ward Pound Ridge 7/5/2025

Ward Pound Ridge Greenery

Sherry Felix2 Comments

Some mixed greens that we enjoyed seeing. The last image is a granite moss covered glacial erratic.

Close-up of a green stem with a dark, textured bud at the top, surrounded by a blurred natural background.
Rough Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up of tree branches with small pink buds emerging, set against a blurred background of more branches.
Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up of emerging fiddlehead ferns surrounded by dried leaves and grass.
Fern, Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up of green plant shoots covered in soft, white fuzz, surrounded by dried leaves.
Fern, Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up of vibrant green plants with broad leaves, surrounded by smaller green foliage and twigs on the forest floor.
Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up view of a rocky area featuring various green plants and small trees, surrounded by fallen leaves.
Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A moss-covered rock surrounded by green plants and trees in a forested area with some water.
Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up view of tree branches covered in lichen, with a blurred natural background.
Lichen, Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up view of a stream with clear water flowing over rocks covered in green moss and scattered twigs.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A large, moss-covered rock surrounded by forest in early spring, with fallen leaves on the ground and trees in the background.
Mossy rock, Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025

Ward Pound Ridge Flowers

Sherry Felix12 Comments

Before the trees leaf out flowers bloom in the woodlands. There were thousands of trout lilies. A kind man showed us the hepaticas (last 2 photos).

A close-up of a yellow flower in a woodland setting, surrounded by green, patterned leaves and some dried leaves.
Two yellow flowers with curled petals growing among dried leaves in a woodland setting.
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up of delicate pink and white cherry blossoms on bare branches, with a soft-focus background highlighting the flowers.
Wild Cherry, Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up of a single white flower with delicate petals and green leaves, set against a blurred background of woodland foliage.
Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up of delicate white flowers with purple accents growing among brown leaves on the forest floor.
Virginia Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Close-up of a purple violet flower blooming among green leaves and dry brown foliage.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A delicate blue flower blooming amidst dry leaves in a woodland setting.
Liverwort (Hepatica), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up of a small purple flower with white details growing among dried leaves and a green leaf in the background.
Liverwort (Hepatica), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025

Ward Pound Ridge Wildlife

Sherry FelixLeave a comment

I didn’t see many insects or birds. I heard a pileated woodpecker. I saw a few red tails, Eastern Phoebes, and tree swallows. I also spotted a bluebird and a few others. I also saw a spring azure that I couldn’t photograph and a pondhawk dragonfly.

A bluebird perched on a narrow railing against a backdrop of cloudy sky.
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up of a butterfly resting on a moss-covered log, showcasing its orange and black wings.
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
Two turtles resting on a log beside a body of water, with one turtle featuring green grass on its shell.
Spotted Turtle (Emydidae Clemmys guttata), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A butterfly perched on dry leaves, featuring orange and black markings.
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up of a bee or wasp resting on brown, dried leaves, showcasing its wings and fuzzy body.
Large Bee-fly (Bombylius major), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up of a brown moth resting on a wooden surface, showcasing its triangular shape and textured wings.
Dark-banded Owlet (Phalaenophana pyramusalis), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A close-up of a black butterfly with white and red markings resting on dry soil and small pebbles.
Grapevine Epimenis (Psychomorpha epimenis), Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025

Ward Pound Ridge Landscapes

Sherry Felix4 Comments

In April I like to see spring greenery and wildlife. Ward Pound Ridge is one of my favorite places. About: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. After reading about Ward Pound Ridge you maybe curious about Leatherman (vagabond) – Wikipedia. The last photograph is where we ate our picnic by the Cross River.

A scenic view of a large white house surrounded by greenery and trees, with a dirt path leading towards it and a cloudy sky above.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A serene wetland area with patches of green grass and reflective water, surrounded by bare trees under a cloudy sky.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A tranquil scene featuring a calm water body surrounded by moss-covered tree stumps and tufts of grass, reflecting the greenery and natural elements of spring.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A tranquil outdoor scene at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, featuring a grassy area with a bench and large boulders, surrounded by leafless trees and early spring greenery.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A serene view of a calm pond surrounded by trees, reflecting the sky and nearby vegetation in early spring.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025
A tranquil scene of a flowing river surrounded by trees in early spring, with patches of greenery and brown grasses along the riverbank.
Ward Pound Ridge 4/20/2025