March 11th. Ice on the marsh all gone!

 

 

 

 

 

Distant Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)...

 

 

 

...Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)...

 

...and Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus).

 

 

 

A short walk east of Cook Hill Road in Lebanon.

 

 

 

Nothing better than a good scratch.

 

 

 

 

 

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) had a tough winter.

 

American Beaver (Castor canadensis) at the pond east of River Road. Most of the pond is ice free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)...

 

...and his mate.

 

March 12th. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as I approached Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

At the pond east of Route 207, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). It flew before I could get a decent picture... but landed beside a second hawk!

 

Then the first bird flew off again.

 

 

 

A pair of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) not far from where the hawks were perched.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 13th. American Robin (Turdus migratorius).

 

Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) are back at the pond east of Route 207.

 

Less than a dozen so far but there will be more soon. Note female at the left.

 

 

 

March 14th. A pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) at the marsh again. The same ones as on March 9th?

 

 

 

Comparing the variable white cheek markings can identify geese, but my March 9th photos are of the other side of the heads.

 

Back on the trail around 3:15 P.M. Sunny afternoon. I went looking for Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) on the Colchester spur.

 

I found several...

 

...and more on the main trail through Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

 

 

Saw this male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) on a little island out in the marsh.

 

Ah, it's the banded one I've seen lately...

 

...and he appears to have a mate.

 

Pretty lousy nest site so far. Hopefully, "mom" will move higher up.

 

(Note: the next morning there were no Mallards at this spot.)

 

March 15th. (On this date in 1966, I got a grade of 14 out of 100 on a college chemistry exam. I wrote "Beware the Ides of March" on the exam paper when I handed it in. I was not meant to be a chemist.) Anyway... A distant Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).

 

A male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) on the left, female at the right, near the post of a former wood duck house.

 

The female.

 

A few Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) around. Some squabbling and chasing going on, but not between this pair.

 

 

 

Again, a single American Robin (Turdus migratorius).

 

Five Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula).