May 7th. A male Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A male American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pair of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) take a break from fast flying bug snatching.

 

Water levels are back to normal.

 

A male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

 

 

 

A brief stop at Cranberry Bog. Goslings! I counted seven in all.

 

Canada Geese are Branta canadensis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All seven goslings in this view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 8th. Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morowii) has begun to bloom.

 

Far across the marsh, a female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) with 14 ducklings (not all in this photo).

 

Clutch size varies from 6 to 16 eggs, though if nesting tree holes or wood duck boxes are scarce, females will lay eggs in another female's nest.

 

 

 

 

 

All 14 ducklings in this photo. Over them, an Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).

 

Later, at Cranberry Bog a Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) rips apart another bird's nest.

 

All seven Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) goslings in this photo.

 

 

 

Check out those feet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little later, the family paddled across the pond.

 

Some enthusiastic splashing along the way.