March 31st. Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) really like to nest in Wood Duck houses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula).

 

Mid afternoon. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) and Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) at Cranberry Bog.

 

 

 

Next stop Norton's Pond where I saw a pair of Canada Geese.

 

 

 

 

 

...and an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) chowing down of an animal it caught. It was far across the pond, beyond the powers of my camera.

 

 

 

Possibly a fish (tail below the branch).

 

April 1st. Ornamental Daffodils are opening at the Route 85 parking area.

 

 

 

 

 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) flowers are fully open now.

 

 

 

The Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are exploring all the Wood Duck houses.
The bird on the left says "Oh my god, Rodger, how did you forget to mention that your mother is coming tomorrow and staying for a week?"

 

And then, "I'm not talking to you!" (Thanks to daughter Jill for the captions, and daughter Elizabeth for suggesting that captions were needed.)

 

(Birders, in terms of the captions, let's ignore the fact that both birds are males.)

 

I saw one of these Wood Ducks atop a nest box, but it flew as I approached. Based on this, I wonder if the boxes generally are too close to the trail for the ducks to be comfortable using them.

 

A short afternoon walk east from Cook Hill Road past the dairy farm. (The animals were resting in a yard along the road to the left of the buildings.)

 

Walking east...

 

...to the marsh as dark clouds rolled in. By the time I drove to Willimantic the storm was a deluge.

 

April 2nd. Looks like rebuilding/replacing the bridge over Old Colchester Road, in planning for several years, is about to happen.

 

I believe the road will be closed during the work, requiring a detour of several miles.

 

Lots of surveyor stakes.

 

 

 

Sure hope the plan keeps a trail crossing available, as well as emergency trail access both east and west of the road.

 

 

 

I could use some help identifying this bird. Best guess I have is a non-breeding male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).

 

 

 

 

 

Round-leaved Pyrola (Pyrola rotundifolia).

 

Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata).

 

Lousy pictures in low light, but three birds I rarely see at the marsh. This is a male Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis).

 

This is the female, showing the green wing patch.

 

Now a male Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors).

 

 

 

Now the Geen-winged and Blue-winged Teal males together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 3rd. A pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) at Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pair of Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) that had been at the nest box where I've seen them lately.

 

The pair of Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) at the pond east of Route 207...

 

...diving.