April 30th. A picture taken just west of Smith Street, looking back east towards Cranberry Bog. Cows! (Cows?)

 

A Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) nesting on the little island where geese have nested for as long as I can remember.

 

Mom seriously hunkered down.

 

Seriously.

 

 

 

Dad was on guard, sorta, from the far end of the pond.

 

At the far end, I came across this male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and two females.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After feeding a bit in the reedy shallows, they headed off to the other side of the pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The invasive Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is blooming.

 

May 2nd. Female American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis).

 

May 3rd. Although I've seen plenty of "tail drag" tracks, this is the first Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) I've seen crossing the trail this year.

 

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica).

 

Serviceberry or Shadbush (Amelanchier arborea) is in bloom.

 

 

 

Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius, in the Ginseng Family Araliaceae).

 

 

 

 

 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia).

 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) seeds are well developed.

 

Lots of small frogs in the trailside ditches near Old Colchester Road but I can't be sure of their identity at this stage from these photos.

 

I saw Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) breeding there months ago so that's gotta be the odds on favorite.

 

 

 

May 4th. Red Trillium (Trillium erectum).

 

Back lit.

 

 

 

 

 

Front lit.

 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).

 

A male American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis).

 

He hung around for a lot of pictures.

 

These are just a sample.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia).

 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), puffed up and preening.

 

;-)

 

 

 

On another branch with a mate (presumably) a few feet away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wild Oats or Sessile Bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia).

 

 

 

A male Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis).