Along the Air Line... 2018 - Spring, Part 1
The Air Line Trail in Eastern Connecticut - Stan Malcolm Photos
mHome Page
Stan's FlickR Albums

 

 

March 21st.  Spring! ...but a foot or more of snow expected later today. 
One of two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodius) at Raymond Brook Marsh today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For reasons unknown, the marsh is at its lowest level ever (and it was nearly this low earlier in March).  The foreground in this photo is usually underwater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 22nd.  Thankfully, yesterday's storm was much weaker than predicted, leaving only 3 or 4 inches of heavy wet snow which is quickly melting today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were the only waterfowl active mid-morning.

 

 

 

 

 

March 23rd.  Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) overhead.

 

 

Another immature Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) sighting, far across the marsh.

 

 

Identifiable, but way beyond the capabilities of my little camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 26th.  An afternoon walk east from Cook Hill Road in Lebanon. 
This photo looking west from the parking area.

 

 

Wood Frogs (Rana sylvestris) in chorus just as you begin walking east.

 

 

 

 

 

Farm cat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The marsh looking pretty bleak.

 

 

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus).

 

 

I was hoping for Mourning Cloak butterflies in the wooded section, but no luck.

 

 

Next stop, Raymond Brook Marsh.  The usual Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)...

 

 

...plus a treat: several Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis)

 

 

 

 

 

I was hoping to see Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) - and saw several.

 

 

 

 

 

A good sized Wood Frog (Rana sylvestris) chrous near the western end of the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) here too, of course.

 

 

March 27th.  Male Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

 

 

No obvious bands.

 

 

One photo and it was off, heading east.

 

 

March 28th.  Beavers have been working on four large trees near their lodge and dam at the pond east of Route 207.  The dam is at the far left; the lodge just right of center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water level is high.