January 1st, 2024. Happy New Year! Rushed out early in hopes of a sunrise. Just made it for the pre-dawn color as it began to peak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With daylight came visibility enough to see the Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) that had spent the night on the marsh.

 

January 3rd. A very frosty 23 degrees. The marsh almost entirely frozen over...

 

...except for a spot where 80 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) spent the night.

 

Check out the heavy frost in the background.

 

A male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola). Not sure I've ever seen one at the marsh. If I have, it was long long ago.

 

The metallic green and maroon (not to mention the white) on its head is awesome.

 

Learn about them here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bufflehead

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-afternoon. The cattle east of Cook Hill Road resting in a corn stubble field.

 

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).

 

Looks like a juvenile Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). White wing patches visible when it flew.

 

Water levels in the marsh are back where they belong after beavers finished rebuilding their dam.

 

Rock Doves (Columba livia) and Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) feeding in discarded cattle bedding.

 

Rock Dove is the formal common name for Domestic Pigeon.

 

January 4th. A dusting of snow this morning.

 

A real snow storm predicted for 3 days from now.

 

The male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) was around again.

 

Flew off, but not too far.

 

Sixty-seven Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) this morning, fewer than on recent days.

 

A few Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) flew in to join the geese.