March 31st. An afternoon walk east from Cook Hill Road in Lebanon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praying Mantis egg case.

 

A male American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) in mid-molt to breeding plumage.

 

 

 

Note: I saw but could not photograph two Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). First of the year!

 

April 1st. Twentythree degrees and frosty. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) flowers give fall-like colors to the trees.

 

Frost on the hairy basal rosette of overwintering Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) leaves.

 

Bear with me. Too many pictures of a male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) but I couldn't resist posting them all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2nd. At Raymond Brook Marsh, only these three Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and the resident pair.

 

One of the three was very loud. No Mallards, Wood Ducks, or Ring-necked Ducks in sight.

 

East of Route 207, only the pair of Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola)...

 

 

 

...and this Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) right at the road.

 

False Turkey-tail polypore (Stereum ostrea).

 

 

 

 

 

An afternoon walk from Old Colchester Road to Grayville Road, hoping for first signs of Bloodroot. (No luck.)
But... Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) buds are ready to open.

 

Starting to open!

 

I wasn't sure what this was...

 

...until I found this larger one. I confirmed its ID by rubbing the leaf to release a strong onion aroma: it's Ramps (Allium tricoccum).

 

No flowers yet, but these are Sweet White Violets (Viola blanda).

 

Round-leaved Pyrola (Pyrola americana).

 

Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex).

 

Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)_planted adjacent to the trail at Grayville Road.