February 26th. About an inch of snow yesterday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pair of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) on the channel side.

 

 

 

A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) in the channel...

 

...and the female nearby.

 

 

 

A few Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) around.

 

 

 

March 1st. Back on the trail after 6 or 7 inches of heavy snow yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some insects are active atop snow when temps are roughly 32 degrees. This is an adult Winter Stonefly (Family Capniidae, probably Allocapnia sp.). The nymphs are aquatic, living in streams like the stream near the Route 85 parking area where this photo was taken.

 

Nearby I saw this female Midge (Family Chironomidae) atop snow too. The larvae are aquatic like the stonefly above.

 

March 2nd. Tree down across the trail about 200 feet east of Route 207.

 

Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) are still aound on open water east of Route 207.

 

Quite a few of them but spread out so I didn't try to count them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 3rd. Yesterday's snow people haven't aged well.

 

First Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) that I've gotten a good look at.

 

 

 

Several pair of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullaris) on the north side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) around of course.