March 1st. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura).

 

 

 

A male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus).

 

Lots of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on the channel side near the old beaver dam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Away from the beaver dam, most of Raymond Brook Marsh was still iced over.

 

 

 

 

 

A brief stop east of Route 207. The beaver lodge iced in. The whole pond iced over.

 

A mix of crustose and foliose Lichens along with False Turkeytail (Sterum ostria) fungi on a decaying birch log.

 

 

 

March 2nd. A pair of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus).

 

 

 

I also heard Wood Ducks fly by.

 

A large American Crow (Corvus brachyrhyncos).

 

 

 

Listen to their various calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/sounds

 

Cleared for takeoff.

 

A short afternoon walk east of Cook Hill Road. Warm temps and lots of melting ice. Muddy so I didn't go very far.

 

Dried Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) spiny seedpod.

 

Cattle soaking up the sun.

 

 

 

Domestic Pigeons or Rock Doves (Columba livia) more formally.

 

My surname, Malcolm, translates as "ma columb", follower or son of St. Columba, an Irish warrior saint credited with bringing Christianity to Scotland in the 6th century at Iona. More here if you're interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba

 

The pigeons have easy access into the top of the silo.

 

 

 

March 5th. Nineteen degrees. Less ice on the sunny portions of the trail.

 

One of many American Robins (Turdus migratorius).

 

Puffed up for warmth.

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus).

 

 

 

Crest up.

 

Crest down.

 

 

 

 

 

Male Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis).

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh ice overnight.