April 17th. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus).

 

Two male Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) at the Wood Duck box.

 

 

 

A pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris).

 

Two of the three Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodius) I saw around the nest east of Route 207.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both birds flew down to the far side of the pond.

 

 

 

A pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris)...

 

...and a pair of Buffleheads (Bucephalus albeola)...

 

...that dove in synch.

 

Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) at the pond east of River Road. I count 23 of them.

 

A distant Osprey (Pandion halaetus).

 

Lots of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) in the distance.

 

Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) not far from the Brownstone Bridge. Sadly, most of the plants are dead or dying.

 

 

 

 

 

April 18th. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

The two male Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were at the Wood Duck box again.

 

The Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) pair...

 

...and then the female dove.

 

Probably the same Great Blue Heron, but closer to the trail about 15 minutes later.

 

East or Route 207, the femle Great Blue Heron was on the nest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just east of Grayville Road, a Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) flower just opening.

 

This one is fully open...

 

...and has attracted a Bumble Bee (Family Bombidae).

 

Once the flower has been pollinated, it will quickly drop its petals.

 

You can see a bit of the plant's distinctive single leaf below the flower stalk.

 

 

 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquifolia).

 

Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum) near the Grayville Falls town park.

 

 

 

The mottled leaves are distinctive before the vflowers appear.

 

A brief stop at the pond east of River Road where I saw this Great Egret (Ardea alba).

 

In my experience, these are more common at the shore.

 

 

 

 

 

April 19th. Once again, two male Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) at the Wood Duck box.

 

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) on a half submerged log.

 

 

 

East of Route 207, the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) on the nest.

 

 

 

Mid afternoon and above 80 degrees at Cranberry Bog. Momma Goose trying to cool off by panting.

 

Dad has it relatively easy.

 

 

 

By contrast, a Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) soaking up the sun atop a Pond-lily rhizome.