April 28th. This morning, Pat Stanulonis took this picture of a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) pair at Raymond Brook Marsh! I'm blown away: I've never seen this species, much less a pair, much less at the marsh I've walked nearly daily for over 24 years. (I went back to the marsh this afternoon, but needless to say, they weren't around. Just passing through on their way north.)
Learn more about this species here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/overview

 

Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris).

 

 

 

 

 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) is at its peak of blooming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All tidied up for the day with two big diggers parked north of the trail crossing...

 

...and a third one to the south.

 

A male Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) at the marsh...

 

...with a male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) below.

 

 

 

April 29th. Male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) at the exit stream from Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris).

 

Momma Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) on her nest, as usual.

 

Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias).

 

The female Mallard has joined the male. (I didn't notice her until I started editing the pictures.)

 

The female Mallard has joined the male. (I didn't notice her until I started editing the pictures.)

 

 

 

A female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).

 

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea).

 

Gill-over-the-ground (Glechoma hederacea).

 

 

 

 

 

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii). A spiny escaped ornamental. Highly invasive.

 

 

 

A Sheep at the farmyard just east of Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

Barnyard Goose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 1st. Some progress setting in forms for concrete retaining wall I think.

 

 

 

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema sp.).

 

 

 

May 3rd. At the marsh by the Colchester Spur junction, it looks like the Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) have won over the Wood Ducks that considered nesting there.

 

First Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) I've seen at Raymond Brook Marsh this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of three Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodius) at the marsh or flying over it.

 

Progress at the bridge over Old Colchester Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) on the embankment just south of the bridge. (The leaves are something else.)

 

Same embankment, Field Pussytoes (Antennaria solitaria).