December 8th.

 

No bluebirds at the Wood Duck house.

 

Winds and light snow overnight left the marsh surface scoured.

 

The only birds I saw or heard were American Robins (Turdus migratorius).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 10th. Yesterday's rain and continuing temps above freezing melted much of the ice and snow on the trail...

 

...but not all of it. More rain starting tonight, with the addition of high winds tomorrow.

 

 

 

Many Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were back today on the open water.

 

December 12th. After several inches of rain yesterday, deep water and windy whitecaps. See the distant ducks center left?

 

These ducks. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) riding the "surf".

 

The male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) was back.

 

 

 

The outlet stream of Raymond Brook at Old Colchester Road.

 

 

 

December 13th. The male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) was on the north side of the trail today.

 

 

 

At 25 degrees, fresh ice formations in the trailside ditches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the Dolphin?

 

 

 

December 14th. Eleven degrees at my usual walk time so I waited until mid-morning and 19 degrees.
Ice rings remain after water level dropped about 3 inches.

 

 

 

One of several Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) around.

 

 

 

A Sparrow, but I won't try an ID.

 

Ah, a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). Thanks Russ.

 

Hoar Frost caused by vapor rising from warm damp soil below.

 

Back at the parking lot a group of Women on Wheels cyclists ready for a ride east towards Willimantic.

 

December 15th. Twelve degrees at 8:30.

 

Hmm, what event is this for...and has it already happened? I posted the question to the Connecticut Air Line (Airline) Facebook Group and had a reply from Carrie Coy: "it was a small 5k race that started at Grayville Falls entrance Sunday morning at 10 AM." Thank you Carrie!

 

 

 

Ice on Cranberry Bog just east of Smith Street in East Hampton.

 

Chickens in a well kept barnyard several hundred feet east of Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The yard also features sheep and domestic geese.

 

Pony at the less well kept farmyard just west of Smith Street. When it rains, waste flows under the fence and across the trail.

 

 

 

Walking further west from Smith Street, you pass through Bishop's Cut...

 

 

 

 

 

After crossing Watrous Street, the trail passes over Pocopotaug Creek on a pedestrian bridge into downtown East Hampton.

 

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the creek below me.