March 6th. 39 degrees with rain predicted for late morning. Most of the ice is gone and the surface is soft.

 

Temps above 60 predicted for this afternoon.

 

Foggy.

 

A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).

 

 

 

Very vocal.

 

 

 

 

 

A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) joined the Cardinal for a sing-off.

 

 

 

 

 

A pair of Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) perched near where I've seen them on several mornings lately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullaris).

 

 

 

 

 

Some Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)...

 

...and a pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

The first Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) I've seen at the marsh this year.

 

Lots of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) hopping around.

 

Looks like this one found a winterberry(?).

 

 

 

A vocal American Crow (Corvus brachyrhyncos).

 

 

 

March 7th. The snow and ice is almost all gone!

 

Hooded Mergansers (Lophopdytes cucullatus).

 

 

 

I missed them taking off but caught the splashes made by their flailing feet.

 

A mangificent Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the pond east of Route 207, an otherworldly artifact. Actually, a detached root of Fragrant Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata).

 

A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

 

 

A male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus).