At Cranberry Bog in East Hampton, a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) high overhead.

 

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) pecking at a twig...

 

...and calling in full dsplay.

 

A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

 

 

 

 

The female, following.

 

Together, after some head-bobbing display...

 

...they started off Spring with a bang.

 

 

 

Mating only takes a few seconds.

 

Then the female indulged in a shower...

 

 

 

...and some drying off.

 

Still damp, but settled down.

 

A bit further east on the trail, False Turkey-tail (Stereum ostria).

 

 

 

A bit further east near a picnic table there is now a bicycle repair station...

 

BYOA. (Bring Your Own Air, but the stand supports most simple repairs and adjustments.)

 

Back at the pond, the Mallards were hanging out together.

 

 

 

The male hinting interest in another mating. The female? Uh, no.

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder how soon we'll see a nest.

 

At the trailhead, a female Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis).

 

 

 

March 20th. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

 

I saw several spider webs in this inverted V design. New to me. I asked a friendly expert, Lou Sorkin, and came up with probably family Linyphiidae.

 

Not as foggy as some recent days, but still fog shortly after sunrise.

 

 

 

 

 

Bottom's up Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).

 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) flower buds nearly ready to open.

 

 

 

 

 

Pussy Willows (Salix caprea).

 

Orb-weaver spider web amid branches sparkling with last night's rain drops.

 

 

 

Same web, slightly different angle.

 

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) is starting to leaf out.

 

More Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

 

 

 

And they're off!

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 21st. A pair of Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis). The female very like a Mallard female...

 

...but the male's green and chestnut head is distinctive.