April 18th.  Never can get enough of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus).

 

 

 

First Blackfly (Simulium sp.) of the year.

 

 

 

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) is in bud.

 

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) in bloom.

 

The flowers are minute.

 

Barberry (Berberus sp.) is leafing out.  So is Morrow's Honeysuckle.

 

Peat Moss (Sphagnum sp.).

 

Possibly a Thin-maze Flat Polypore (Daedaleopsis confragosa).

 

April 19th.  First pair of Hooded Mergansers (Lophrodytes cucullatus) I've seen for awhile.

 

April 21st.  Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) are in flower now.

 

 

 

A Midge on a petal.

 

Fertile stem of a Horsetail (Equisetum sp.)  Green vegetative stems haven't appeared yet.

 

Spore cone atop the fertil stem.

 

An afternoon walk past the Great Blue Heron roost in Lebanon.  Looks like only one of three nests is large enough to support a family.

 

Nobody home while I was below.

 

Nice to see an active population of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor).

 

Whirligig Beetles (Family Gyrinidae) were active.

 

 

 

 

 

The first Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica) I've seen on the trail.  These were several hundred yards east of the heron rost, down an embankment amid skunk cabbage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Red Velvet Mite (Family Trombidiidae).

 

April 22nd.  Nice to see an occasional Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) still at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

April 24th.  Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) is in bud.  These two plants have survived for years despite being peed upon (right beside a tree trunk) or picked.  The deep "merlot" flowers will attract flies as pollinators.

 

 

 

I counted 23 Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) in this photo before I resized it for the web.

 

 

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

Windy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw two Spring Azures (Celastrina ladon).  Bright sky blue upper wings visible in flight.  Lower surfaces blend in very well with leaf litter.

 

 

 

This is the second Spring Azure.  Note the variation in hindwing markings.

 

April 25th. A brief afternoon walk east of Grayville Road.  Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).

 

 

 

 

 

Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides).

 

Little blue Violet (Viola sp.).