April 24th. Downy Serviceberry or Shadbush (Amelanchier arborea) has begun to bloom.

 

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is blooming too.

 

The Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) pair hanging out and grooming on the wood duck house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East of Route 207, three of only four Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) around. Where are the rest, and the females?

 

The fourth male. Note the Bullhead-lily (Nuphar vareigatum) buds in the lower right.

 

The only halfway decent Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) photo I got. They don't stay still!

 

Two female Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus). No sign of the males.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog to check on the goslings. No sign of them anywhere around the pond, but two annoyed adults.

 

Thankfully, I found them! They'd crossed Smith Street (Yikes!) and were enjoying the vast cover of Duck Weed (Lemna minor) on the teeny pond there.

 

Just six goslings visible in these first two puictures...

 

...but all seven show in this picture.

 

The adults led them away into a patch of grass.

 

April 25th. The Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) still checking out the wood duck house.

 

An afternoon stop at Cranberry Bog. This is the fourth year that I've seen this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) here.

 

It is distinguishedf by the stub of its tongue protruding from a healed wound to its neck from four years ago when the wound happened.

 

 

 

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) perched above the pond.

 

The male Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) and the most independent of the goslings.

 

The family remains in the teeny pond west of Smith Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six of the seven goslings.

 

All seven.

 

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

 

Dandelions are an important pollen source for Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and other bees in early spring.

 

April 26th. Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum).

 

April 27th. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) incognito. (Good for a laugh. Not the worst photo I've posted.)

 

 

 

Assume this is this year's resident.

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata).

 

Yellow rump.

 

 

 

 

 

The usual pair of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) in their usual spot. Female at right.

 

Afternoon at Cranberry Bog. The resident Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) gliding in to a landing.

 

 

 

The bird was overheated, mouth open breathing hard - something called "gular flutter".

 

The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) pair and their 7 goslings remain west of Smith Street, feeding in tall grass beside the little pond.