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April 14th. A male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) calling.
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And now there are females to call to.
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Once again I've seen a male Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) trying to "sell" a Wood Duck house to a female.
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Nice metallic reflections on this male Bufflehead's (Bucephalus albeola) head. Only shows at certain angles.
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A male Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis).
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Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera). Three years ago I photographed this plant on April 14th, two years ago on April 15th, and on April 14th last year and this year. Remarkably reliable.
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It's a shrubby thing; I think regrown from a stump.
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Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa) has been blooming for awhile but is about at peak now.
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April 15th. This is the same Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) that I photographed on April 9th. Spots on front shell margin are an exact match.
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The pair of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) considering this Wood Duck house for a nest.
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A horse and rider on the trail. Both friendly.
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Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) in bloom east of Cook Hill Road, not far from the power lines.
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A few Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) still blooming as the hoof-shaped leaves are developing.
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I heard several Bitterns in the marsh east of Cook Hill Road, but never saw one.
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Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia).
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Not much action at the barnyard. Most of the critters were far out in a field further east.
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Lots of Bloodroot (Sanuginaria canadensis) just west of Cook Hill Road.
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Even more Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) in the same area.
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Near Grayville Falls, Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum) in bloom. The mottled leaves are distinctive. Notice the beetle?
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It's a False Blister Beetle (Family Oedemeridae, probably Asclera ruficollis).
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There were several of them around.
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A typical view of Trout Lily with its distinctive leaves.
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A small early Violet (Viola sp.).
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Lots of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) blooming now.
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Purple Trillium (Trillium erectum) in bud, just west of Smith Street near Cranberry Bog.
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Momma Canadian Goose (Branta canadensis) sitting on lots of down. Correction: most of that "down" is cattail seed fluff.
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The first time I've seen her off the eggs - which she covered deep...
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...before heading out with her mate for just a couple of minutes feeding.
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At the other end of Cranberry Bog, the second female on her nest.
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