March 20th. The first day of Spring! Last year's Great Blue Heron nests at the pond east of Route 207.

 

A male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). Pictures taken between his dives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I know, too many essentially identical pictures, but hard to resist posting them.)

 

Coming from the south side of the trail at Raymond Brook Marsh, I count roughly 128 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in this group.

 

 

 

Still heading north after passing over the trail.

 

An afternoon walk east from Old Hartford Road, on the hunt for frog choruses. I soon heard but couldn't get close to Spring Peepers (Hyla crucifer).
Found some welcome green! Ground Pine (Lycopodium clavatum).

 

 

 

Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) were in full song about a half mile east.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swimming frogs created marvelous surface patterns. Note tan frog, upper right corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you find the frog in this picture?

 

Close up view with the frog centered.

Want to hear the frogs? Here's a YouTube video I made a couple of years ago. Peepers are high pitched peeps (naturally), while the Wood Frogs sound a bit like a cough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBFP424gCMk
Here's a video of just the Wood Frogs from 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_i2x_uui5g
And another, from 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biXPrAnKOhk

 

March 22nd. American Robins (Turdus migratorius) at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

A few Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) around.

 

Multiple pictures of this pair as they swam past various subtly different backgrounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 24th. The usual Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) far across the pond east of Route 207.

 

Also there, a pair of Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola). Female has the smaller white patch on its head.

 

Later in the afternoon, several kinds of waterfowl at Cranberry Bog, starting with this male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) grooming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) dropped in, joining others on the far bank eventually.

 

 

 

Two female Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus).

 

 

 

 

 

March 25th. Male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus).

 

Back to Raymond Brook Marsh in the warm afternoon. First Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

Water level quite high...

 

...and Raymond Brook roaring down by Old Colchester Road.

 

Saw a pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris)...

 

...and a single male.

 

Many more Ring-necked Ducks at the pond east of Route 207.

 

 

 

The pair of Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) was still around.