April 11th. Despite showers (one minutes berfore I started taking pictures), Momma Goose (Branta canadensis) remains on her eggs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rubbing off some of the water droplets from her feathers.

 

Dad in his usual spot on shore, several hundred feet away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Common Muskrat (Ondatra zimbethicus), the first I've seen at Cranberry Bog.

 

The tail is long and flat in the vertical plane. To propel the animal it waves the tail side to side, supplemented by webbed hind feet.

 

It was munching some kind of vegetation; maybe lily pads?

 

 

 

Still munching.

 

Heading off.

 

The ripples confirm the side to side motion of the tail.

 

April 12th. Cranberry Bog after a night of heavy rain and thunder storms. A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) near the parking lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Momma Goose just hanging out, as usual.

 

This is a lodge near where I saw the Muskrat yesterday. Looks like it started out as a beaver lodge based on the mud and large limbs.

 

As usual, Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) at the pond east of Route 207.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of several male Mallards (Anas platyrhynhcos).

 

 

 

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) across the trail from the pond.

 

The invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has started blooming.

 

Purple Trillium (Trillium erectum) about to open its bud.

 

Purple or Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum), a mint.

 

 

 

April 13th. Another Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) found crossing the trail.

 

A pair of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) checking out a different wood duck house.

 

Fern Fiddleheads are emerging.

 

Back to Cranberry Bog and likely the same male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) that I photographed yesterday.

 

No sign of the female. Perhaps she's on a hidden nest.

 

Momma Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) in the same spot, of course.

 

 

 

I found another beaver lodge, just to the right of the other one. I think this one is home to beavers...

 

...because to the right of it there's a large food cache.

 

Most of the geese at the far end of the pond, as usual...

 

...but I spotted another female on a nest, to the right of the bench on the far side.

 

She was actively adding sticks under it so I think she just started nesting.

 

A bit of down got away from her.

 

Another stick.