
March 2nd.
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Lots of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), and a first few Common Grackles (not pictured).
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Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) are back! A female (left) and two males.
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A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) take flight from flowing open water at the far end of the marsh, part of a flight of roughly a dozen birds.
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Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla).
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Three American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were feeding together.
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Male breasts are a deep rust color.
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Back in the afternoon for another walk. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were feeding at the marsh outlet.
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A group of noisy American Crows (Corvus brachyrhyncos) passed by.
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Dark clouds rolled in.
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March 3rd. Eleven degrees and not nearly the bird activity of yesterday. Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were down in the bushes and hummocks for the most part. No sign of any other birds.
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Previous warm temps have removed all but a thin crust of snow from the marsh ice, revealing cracks from expansion and changes in water level..
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March 4th. Thirteen degrees. Despite the cold, the sunny side of the trail is showing soil. The Red-winged Blackbirds were calling from the tops of trees again.
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Epaulettes raised, wings spread, and throat feathers puffed, this Blackbird is in full display and calling.
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March 5th. Thirtyfive degrees, cloudy with occasional light showers. Standing water atop the ice. With more warmish days and light rain ahead, I think we may see some open water soon. With that will come geese and perhaps some "exotic" (for the marsh) ducks.
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Some ice on the channel side is breaking up. Further west, near the marsh outlet, most of the ice is gone.
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