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.

I Like Warblers Don't Forget March & April

When I was first given an introduction to birding the most commonly mentioned times to look forward to in the Spring was the month of May because that is prime warbler time but there is a lot to look forward to in early Spring. Right around Saint Patrick's Day the birding starts to get interesting in Portland. that is the time we start to see a variety of ducks, raptors, Wilson's Snipe, and early migrants as we head into April.

 I started the morning on Sunday with a hike up the Shenipsit trail in Meshomasic Forest. Saint Patrick might have chased the snakes out of Ireland but  Timber Rattlesnakes love the rocky terrain of Meshomasic Forest.

It looks like the skunk cabbage came up just in time for Saint Patrick's Day. Another sure sign of Spring.

 What do you think happened here?

One of the reasons I climbed up Great Hill was in hopes of catching a Black Vulture like this one in flight. I saw a couple of turkey Vultures but no sign of Black Vultures (old photo).

After my climb up Great Hill I headed down to the lowlands near the Connecticut River. The Great Blue Herons are starting to increase in numbers at Wangunk Meadows. (this photo taken at another time).

  I had an interesting eagle sighting. As I was turning away from a flooded canal I started to hear crows calling to one another in trees that were lined up along the edge of the canal.  I started looking around to see what all the ruckus was about and an adult Bald Eagle passed over my head at a height of less than 20 feet. It was interesting to learn the source of the crows excitement and to see the eagle flying solo so low.

There is a little skating pond at the edge of the meadows that floods in the Spring. Early in the morning during March and April it is a good place to find ducks. On this particular day I counted over 50 Green-winged Teal and saw a pair of Northern Pintail. The male pintail is so handsome that the poor Canada goose seems to be hiding its head in shame. There were also many Killdeer and a couple of snipe around the edge of the pond. May might be prime time for warblers but there is plenty to be seen in March and April.

Goodbye Winter Birds And Hello Spring!

I took a ride to Hammonasset to have a last look at some of the birds that will soon be on there way. So I said goodbye to the Horned Lark which is the only true lark which is native to North America.

A few White-winged Crossbills were still around on Sunday.They'll  be on their way back north any day now. There's no guarantee I'll see them again next winter so I was glad to have one last view. Did you know that an individual bird can eat 3,000 seeds in a day? 

I'm sure I'll be seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches again but sometimes they disappear for a while.

I know I'll be seeing and hearing cardinals again but there's something special about seeing cardinals in the snow.

The snow should soon be gone for good this year.  My tires and my shoes both got wet trying to make may way around the flooded park.

The numbers of male Red-winged Blackbirds showing off their red badge of courage. When I start to see lots of Red-winged Blackbirds showing off then I know Spring is very close. In fact, I've decided Spring has officially started today. If the time can be moved forward by an hour on clocks then why not move Spring up by a week?