March 13th. At the pond east of Route 207, several Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were out on the unbroken ice.

 

 

 

 

 

Other males were in the trees.

 

 

 

Fresh ice in the trailside ditch as I headed east from Old Colchester Road towards Raymond Brook Marsh.

 

Looking back from the first little pond towards Old Colchester Road, note the tree limb stuck into a trailside sinkhole.

 

The friend who placed the log into the hole as a warning to trail users told me there is another 3 or 4 feet of log deep in the hole!

 

Hopefully Hebron Park & Rec or DEEP can get out to address this issue. I suspect more is involved than what can be seen from the surface. Other spots nearby are also somwhat sunken.

 

First Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) I've seen this year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday's six Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) were back.

 

 

 

(I also spooked four Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) but no chance of photos.)

 

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)...

 

 

 

 

 

...singing, naturally.

 

March 14th. The trail was looking great this morning!

 

Of course the piled snow in the parking lot will be around for awhile.

 

Do I imagine a little green in the grass?

 

 

 

 

 

A halfway decent Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) picture...

 

...or two.

 

The Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) were around again. (And again I saw three Wood Ducks moving fast overhead.)

 

Breeze made for ripples. Strong winds expected later and tomorrow. (One forecast mentioned chance of tornadoes tomorrow, but that is no longer mentioned.)

 

Ring-necked Ducks have a piercing angry look head on.

 

Managed a couple of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) pictures.

 

 

 

South side of the marsh still mostly icy.

 

 

 

 

 

A short walk at Norton's Pond. Still iced over, except at the exit dam.

 

 

 

Last year's Common Reed grass (Phragmites australis) stirred by the breezes.

 

 

 

Beaver lodge looks fine. Might start to hear kits in April or May.