March 13th. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two male American Robins (Turdus migratorius) peacefully foraging together...

 

 

 

...except when they'd fly up and attack each other.

 

Two pair of Buffleheads (Bucephalus albeola) today.

 

Following a Mallard for awhile.

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) on the distant dead tree.

 

A better picture of the Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) than the one on the previous page.

 

Back out in the afternoon with temp above 60 degrees. A pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) at the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next stop, the trail east of Old Hartford Road. A Wood Frog (Rana sylvestris) egg mass in a trailside ditch.

 

In the last picture, did you notice the female mosquito feeding on the contents of a frog egg?

 

Near the eggs, I spotted this pair of frogs.

 

A riot of calls and ripples at the vernal pool a bit further east.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A brief stop at Raymond Brook Marsh where I was expecting to see this Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) with its distinctive deformed carapace. I've seen it at that spot for at least three years. I was pretty sure it would be out on this warm sunny afternoon.

 

Two normal turtles nearby.

 

A final stop at the pond east of Route 207. Two more Painted Turtles.

 

A bottoms-up Canada Goose.

 

Mostly Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris).

 

Acting on a tip, I found a couple of Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis) mixed in with the Ring-necked Ducks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm almost certain that the duck behind the Teal is a female American Black Duck (Anas rubripes). Note the olive bill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 14th. Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) at the pond east of Route 207.

 

 

 

Note, the first Lily Pad I've seen coming to the surface.

 

A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)...

 

...and its mate.

 

 

 

 

 

With temp reaching near 70 degrees, an afternoon walk east of Cook Hill Road in Lebanon. Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) and Spring Peepers (Hyla crucifer) were in chorus together.

 

Listen! The Wood Frogs "quack"; the Spring Peepers "peep".

 

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata).

 

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). The yellow central structure is the spadix which bears small flowers.

 

Scouring Rush (Equisetum hyemale), an ancient plant.

 

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

 

 

 

A Ground Beetle (Family Carabidae). As I walked along, I felt an insect land on my neck. I tried to grab it gently but it got away. Lucky for me it did as it turned out to be a female Polistes wasp. (Only the pregnant females overwinter.)

 

March 15th. Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morowii) is starting to leaf out. Rain began minutes after taking this picture, and lasted throughout the walk. Stopped by the time I drove home.