April 28th. The first Pink Lady's-slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) are a few inches tall.

 

Some Purple Trillium (Trillium erectum) flowers still in good shape.

 

 

 

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) leaves are starting to expand.

 

Sessile Bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia).

 

A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) crossing the trail...

 

...far, far away. (Just a demo of the range of zoom on my Canon SX70 HS - from 21mm to 1365mm equivalent.) The ducks were beyond the dark patch in the trail.

 

A bunch of photos showing activity of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) at a wood duck house that they've been checking out for weeks. I won't comment on much of the behavior because I'm not sure what's going on, but there are a male and two females involved. Male head more metallic than female head, which is mostly black.

 

This is a male.

 

This is a female.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First time I've seen a female enter the box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male and female.

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm. A male and female atop the box and a female inside.

 

Same three birds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 29th. Two male Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

First snake I've seen this year; a Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). They scoot away when you get too close.

 

As these snakes get older, their backs get darker, almost black.

 

A Common Musk Turtle or Stinkpot (Sternothaerus odoratus).

 

What are the odds of a Red-winged Blackbird being diostantly behind the beak of this Green Heron (Butorides virescens).

 

I rarely see Green Herons at the marsh. Once or twice a year if I'm lucky.

 

The bird moved to this spot, barely visible in a clump of Alders.

 

The resident Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) perched atop the wood duck house that was the scene of yesterday's Tree Swallow behaviors (See above).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out that foot!

 

 

 

A short afternoon walk east of Route 207. One of several Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) enjoying the warm day.

 

Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) or a close relative of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Blue Violet (Viola papilionaceae) I think, with an ant.

 

 

 

Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum).