March 20th. The first day of Spring! A pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) at the pond east of Route 207.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A female taking off, followed soon by the males.

 

A female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) making waves.

 

Plenty of Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta).

 

 

 

A distant male Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis) at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

Smaller dark brown female cones of Alder (Alnus sp.) are opening beside the pollen-bearing male catkins.

 

The male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) was still around. Grooming.

 

 

 

 

 

Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) at the pond east of River Road. You can actually see the maroon neck "collars" for which they're named.).

 

 

 

One duck diving.

 

March 22nd. First Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) of the year at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

 

 

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are back! Looks like all males.

 

I count 25 in this photo.

 

A few minutes later and they were gone.

 

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura).

 

March 23rd. A couple of new painted rocks along the trail.

 

 

 

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) far across the masrh.

 

One of a pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) hanging around. No sign of a nest though.

 

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula).

 

Note the Red Maple (Acer rubrum) buds in the background.

 

The male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola).

 

 

 

A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 25th. Foggy start.

 

 

 

Day Lilies (Hemerocallis fulva) near the parking area, as are...

 

...these ornamental Daffodils about ready to bloom.

 

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula).

 

More fog, though it was quickly burning off.

 

 

 

The single male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) once again.

 

 

 

Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) is just starting to leaf out.

 

The heron nest at the pond east of Route 207 remains empty. No sign of Great Blue Herons nearby so far.

 

A couple of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on the beaver lodge. Possible nesting site?

 

A pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris)...

 

...and more in the distance.

 

 

 

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) leaves are unfurling.

 

Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) by the train mural west of Route 85.

 

 

 

Another new painted rock.