A Snow Puddle Path Leading To Spring

It's been quite some time that I've been able to see what kind of bird activity their is at my favorite local patch. I thought that the snow might have melted enough that I might enjoy a walk through the meadows if I wore my waterproof boots. It turned out to be more of a struggle than I had bargained for. With each step, I sunk into a foot of snow followed by another 6 inches of water. I found this to be an annoying waste of energy. By the end of the walk it was the energy channeled from my aggravation that propelled me to the finish line.

I was encouraged by some of the birds I saw which was a preview of good things to come. I was welcomed by a lone Killdeer as I first entered the fields. I also saw 4  Great Blue Herons flying out from the direction of the local rookery. 

There were several Ring-necked Ducks, 18 Wood Ducks, and  Hooded Mergansers, and Common Mergansers gathered in an area where the ice had melted on the river but I made so much noise crunching through the snow that they were long gone by the time I got close to them.

A week later (this weekend) much of the snow has melted making it easier to get around. I was able to sneak up a little closer to those mergansers and the sun finally busted out from behind the clouds.

One Red-winged Blackbird announcing that Spring is on its way.

As the snow melts, little ponds are forming in the woods at the edge of the meadows where ducks like this  Wood Duck can hang out. I know the calendar says that Spring has arrived. It doesn't feel like Spring just yet but it's getting there.