April 25th. A short afternoon walk at Cranberry Bog. A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) at the little barnyard to the east.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the tail?

 

Better?

 

The mate flew by, perching where it was hard to get a picture...

 

...but it changed perches, revealing its identity as a Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).

 

 

 

 

 

Back at the nest, wings as well as tail briefly visible.

 

Back at Cranberry Bog, a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) on the hunt.

 

I missed the strike, but there's a fish in it's beak, hidden by the grass.

 

One of the Sunfish I'd say (Lepomis sp.).

 

 

 

Looks like a Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus).

 

 

 

Down the hatch.

 

 

 

Bulge in the bird's throat...

 

...moving down.

 

A drink of water to help wash the fish down.

 

 

 

One of the Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

 

The other one on the nest.

 

 

 

Something got its attention...

 

...eliciting a hiss.

 

Ah, a female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) perched briefly nearby...

 

...with a bit of fishing gear and line in its beak.

 

April 26th. Water Lily Planthopper (Megamelus davisi) on recently emerged Bullhead-lily (Nuphar vareigatum) pads.

 

Where and in what stage did they overwinter?

 

 

 

Shadbush or Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea).

 

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema sp.) is just coming up.

 

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is just starting to leaf out.

 

A short afternoon walk at Cranberry Bog. Yesterday's Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was fishing again.

 

Strike!

 

Got a fish.

 

 

 

 

 

Taking off...

 

...across the pond to digest the fish in private.

 

 

 

Ducks at the little farmyard to the east.

 

 

 

Domestic Geese in the background.

 

A bit further east, see anything interesting at the Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) nest?

 

Eye and beak at the left where the tail was visible yesterday.

 

A stop by the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) nest. I assume "mom" has the primary incubation role.

 

In which case, this is "dad" coming near from the left. He was looking at, and approaching...

 

...the Great Blue Heron.

 

See the goose at the shore?

 

Surprisingly, the heron seems to have been intimidated by the goose's approach, defending the nest, and flew off.

 

 

 

The heron landed at the dam on the far end of the pond.

 

"Mom" was undisturbed.

 

 

 

A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) paddled by the goose nest island. Last year, Mallards also nested there.