April 27th. A young Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) circling over the marsh. Awful pics, but with low light and my camera, I felt lucky to get any photos at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A male American Robin (Turdus migratorius).

 

 

 

The usual Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) in the usual spot.

 

 

 

A male Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Red Trilliums (Trillium erectum) are blooming now.

 

 

 

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is blooming everwhere now.

 

At the pond east of Route 207, the pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) were resting again.

 

A brief midday stop along River Road near the Blackledge River bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 28th. An afternoon walk from Route 85 west, then onto the Colchester spur. Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) in profusion...

 

...attracting bees. This Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) has just started her run and carries no pollen on her hind legs...

 

...while this one has a nearly full load.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a Cuckoo Bee. In the same family as honey bees (Apidae) but subfamily Nomadinae and Nomada sp.

 

Seconds earlier, this bee-mimic Flower Fly (Family Syrphidae) was also on a dandelion.

 

Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia).

 

Common Chickweed (Stellaria media).

 

The flowers are tiny.

 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia).

 

I saw several large patches of Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) still blooming...

 

...though below the flower, the leaf is starting to unfurl.

 

 

 

 

 

Several nice patches of Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).

 

 

 

Lots of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris).

 

 

 

 

 

I turned around just beyond this backdoor gate into Zagray Farm.

 

April 29th. Light fog which soon lifted at the marsh.

 

This Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla) was right beside me, almost too close for me to focus the camera.

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were tusseling over possession of this wood duck house.

 

 

 

 

 

This pair won. (Can birds appear smug?)

 

A male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) dropped in briefly.

 

 

 

East of Route 207, these Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) were the only waterfowl on the pond...

 

...and they soon took off (but only to cross the trail to the Sporting Club pond over there).