November 22nd. Midday after a welcome night and morning of rain.

 

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) have some extra water, at least for now..

 

 

 

A female Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon). I've seen it several times recently but this distant photo was the first time I could get pictures.

 

 

 

A tree down across the trail just east of Route 207.

 

I stopped by Hebron Park & Rec and alerted staff to the problem.

 

At the pond east of Route 207, I saw two pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris).

 

 

 

 

 

November 23rd. Mid afternoon, when the skies were beginning to clear. There's water back in the marsh. Pretty shallow but covering much more area.

 

Lots of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) but the group is more spread out.

 

 

 

 

 

Dunking and shaking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the white building on the horizon?

 

Checking on satellite view of Bing Maps. the building is about 2.5 miles away. (I really like my camera.)

 

Warm colors as the sun broke through.

 

A group of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) were foraging on the trail surface.

 

 

 

November 24th. The Hebron crew was quickly out to take care of the downed tree I reported on Friday afternoon east of Route 207.

 

Two male Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris). No sign of the two females I saw on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

November 25th. A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).

 

It found something to eat on the trail surface.

 

November 27th. Twentyfive degrees and heavy frost.

 

Roughly 30 Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the only open water around.

 

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora).

 

Seed heads of Buttonbush(Cephalanthus occidentalis), also known as Honey-balls.)

 

Turkey-tail (Trametes versicolor) I think.

 

Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) around.

 

 

 

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).

 

 

 

Under bark, a Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle (Disonycha pensylvanica). Larvae feed on Smartweed (Polygonum sp.).

 

A lightless species of Firefly (Ellychnia corrusca), also under bark.

 

The pond near the Colchester Spur junction was completely iced over.

 

A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) landed far across the pond east of Route 207.

 

A few seconds later it was chased off by this second Red-tailed Hawk.

 

 

 

A minute or two later, this bird flew off too.

 

Lousy focus but you can see the red tail.

 

The male of a pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris)...

 

...and the female. Both were frequently diving for food.

 

A couple of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) around too.