March 29th. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

 

 

 

I'm a fan of Beavers - for so many good reasons. They're an asset where they live adjacent to the Air Line Trail, allowing people to experience their engineering and behaviors close up. Less obvious is all they do to replenish our aquifers by slowing the progress of water to the sea and allowing it to sink into the ground. Please attend this if you're able, request that your library offer the book, and/or share the word.
Here's a print resolution version of the poster: https://www.performance-vision.com/airline2024/BeaverlandFlyer.jpg

 

March 30th. A pair of Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis).

 

The male.

 

A distant pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)...

 

...that shortly took off right towards me.

 

 

 

A Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata), one of several flitting around.

 

 

 

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia).

 

 

 

 

 

Early afternoon at Cranberry Bog. Mamma Goose atop her eggs. Dad was on the sunny bank some distance away.

 

The rest of the geese (and this isn't all of them) were at the far end of the pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31st. Two of roughly a half dozen Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) far out in the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) around.

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) taking a break from pursuing flying insects.

 

Pussy Willow (Salix sp.) anthers are showing pollen.

 

Pink female flower of American Hazelnut (Corylus americana), with a male flowered catkin below.

 

 

 

Two female Buffleheads (Bucephalus albeola) followed by a male Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris).

 

A proper pair of Ring-necked Ducks.

 

 

 

A male that had just popped to the surface, beak about to drip.

 

The maroon neck ring visible in this picture.

 

A male Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) at work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later, an afternoon walk east from Cranberry Bog to the Rapallo Viaduct. Despite the coloration, I think this is a Green Frog (Rana clamitans).

 

 

 

A Water Strider (Family Gerridae). The dark spots below the surface are made by the deformation in the surface from the insect's legs.

 

Waterfalls in the rock cut. The ground is thoroughly saturated due to our record winter rains.

 

 

 

My destination. While the wrought-iron trestle is still there, it has been covered by fill, now shrouded by forest.