Spring Comes to the North Country

[Jeff Reardon]

We had a couple of false starts. I ice fished early in March in a T shirt with bright sun and 60 degree sun. We had rain that got us almost to bare mud even back in the woods a few days after that, but then March threw 3 plowable snowstorms at us, including a soaking wet 10" on March 22. It's all gone now, and last night pulling into the driveway at dusk I heard my first peenting woodcock. My wife went out with her Merlin app on the phone--she is getting pretty deaf and doesn't hear a lot of bird calls anymore. In addition to the woodcock, she saw a flock of ducks go overhead and Merlin told her it was hearing wood ducks. My guess is that means the pond across the road and down the hill from the house has open water and they are in there and nesting.

Robins all over the lawn this morning when I left for work, and I saw my first wood chuck of the year, too.

 

[Steve Sanford]

We had a couple of false starts. I ice fished early in March in a T shirt with bright sun and 60 degree sun. We had rain that got us almost to bare mud even back in the woods a few days after that, but then March threw 3 plowable snowstorms at us, including a soaking wet 10" on March 22. It's all gone now, and last night pulling into the driveway at dusk I heard my first peenting woodcock. My wife went out with her Merlin app on the phone--she is getting pretty deaf and doesn't hear a lot of bird calls anymore. In addition to the woodcock, she saw a flock of ducks go overhead and Merlin told her it was hearing wood ducks. My guess is that means the pond across the road and down the hill from the house has open water and they are in there and nesting.

Robins all over the lawn this morning when I left for work, and I saw my first wood chuck of the year, too.

First Tree Swallows yesterday - on a favorite beaver marsh. (cellphone @ 4x - good photos still trapped in my Canon....)



All the best,

SJS

 

[Jeff Reardon]

I saw wood ducks crossing the highway on my way into work this morning, and the pond they were headed towards is very similar in size and elevation to the one near home and had ice about half out. A friend reports that the local colony of sandhill cranes has started poking around the usual nesting area, though I have yet to see them. Eagles are everywhere carrying sticks about, so babies must be on their minds. Have not yet seen an osprey on my index nest--a tall powerline pole that has had a nest every spring for as long as I can remember, but they are usually hear a couple of weeks after the snow and ice are gone.

 

[Steve Sanford]

I saw wood ducks crossing the highway on my way into work this morning, and the pond they were headed towards is very similar in size and elevation to the one near home and had ice about half out. A friend reports that the local colony of sandhill cranes has started poking around the usual nesting area, though I have yet to see them. Eagles are everywhere carrying sticks about, so babies must be on their minds. Have not yet seen an osprey on my index nest--a tall powerline pole that has had a nest every spring for as long as I can remember, but they are usually hear a couple of weeks after the snow and ice are gone.

Jeff~

I had no idea you had Sandhills up your way - congratulations! We have some that migrate up the Hudson Valley but our only nesters are in central NYS - at the Montezuma complex.

Some Cowbirds and a Sapsucker at our feeders this morning.

All the best,

SJS