Always Scouting For New Places

I'm always looking for new places to find birds as the heart of spring migration approaches. This is one place I checked out called Westfield Falls. It's a beautiful little twin waterfall. Whenever I find a waterfall like this I take out my telescoping fishing rod and take a cast or 2 to see if there are any brook trout hanging around. No dice this time around.

Over in my old hometown of Portland the ducks have been visiting the fairgrounds after a receding flood. I was fortunate to see a Blue-winged Teal after a tip from another birder. They are less common and can be tricky to spot sometimes because they blend in with the weeds. 

Secret River Path And Early Sign Of Spring

The Connecticut River has many areas with great habitat for birds and other wildlife. The key is trying to find places to access it. There are may public access sites but it is those little known secret trails that intrigue me the most. I found this little path behind an old gravel pit. I knew that it would eventually lead to the river.

Fish crows at the top of a tower were the first birds I encountered. They look the same as regular crows but have a nasally sounding call. They are also a hair smaller.

It's always nice to come across a Pileated Woodpecker. This one looks like a female lacking the red malar mark and the red on the head doesn't extend to the base of the bill like it does on the male.

When I start to see skunk cabbage popping up I know that Spring is just around the corner!

The trail finally reached the river and I found myself looking directly across to downtown Middletown.