Saturday, March 21, 2015

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.

7 comments:

warriormom said...

No open water here yet. I'm eager to hear the red winged blackbirds!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Your efforts of crunching and getting soaking wet feet, I'm sure, paid off. Seeing that Red-Winged was the charmer for me, Larry!...:)JP

Michelle said...

I love the colors of the wood duck!

Larry said...

Spring sure is slow to take over this year. Winter just can't seem to get out of the way!

Cathy said...

Beautiful pixes Larry. Very stalwart of you to slog on like that.
And it's true. Nothing like the sound of a red-winged black bird . . . a killdeer over head to make you believe that spring is here. At long last.

Germán Ibarra Zorrilla said...

Preciosas fotografías de unas aves espectaculares. Me ha gustado mucho tu blog, me hago seguidor. Saludos cordiales desde España.
http://faunacompacta.blogspot.com.es/

Larry said...

translation-Beautiful photographs of spectacular birds. I really liked your blog , I am a follower . Best regards from Spain.
-gracias