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At Cranberry Bog in East Hampton, a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) high overhead.
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Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) pecking at a twig...
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...and calling in full dsplay.
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A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).
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The female, following.
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Together, after some head-bobbing display...
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...they started off Spring with a bang.
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Mating only takes a few seconds.
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Then the female indulged in a shower...
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...and some drying off.
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Still damp, but settled down.
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A bit further east on the trail, False Turkey-tail (Stereum ostria).
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A bit further east near a picnic table there is now a bicycle repair station...
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BYOA. (Bring Your Own Air, but the stand supports most simple repairs and adjustments.)
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Back at the pond, the Mallards were hanging out together.
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The male hinting interest in another mating. The female? Uh, no.
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I wonder how soon we'll see a nest.
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At the trailhead, a female Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis).
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March 20th. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
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I saw several spider webs in this inverted V design. New to me. I asked a friendly expert, Lou Sorkin, and came up with probably family Linyphiidae.
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Not as foggy as some recent days, but still fog shortly after sunrise.
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Bottom's up Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).
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Red Maple (Acer rubrum) flower buds nearly ready to open.
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Pussy Willows (Salix caprea).
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Orb-weaver spider web amid branches sparkling with last night's rain drops.
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Same web, slightly different angle.
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Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) is starting to leaf out.
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More Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).
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And they're off!
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Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).
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March 21st. A pair of Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis). The female very like a Mallard female...
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...but the male's green and chestnut head is distinctive.
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