The trails lost their ice cover in the first week of March which made it much easier, and safer, to get around. With the ongoing bridge replacement though, the trail is not fully open around the lake.
On our first walkabout of the month, there was very little activity, but a few crows were sounding alarm calls over one small area. We soon discovered what they were so excited about - a cooper's hawk was on the prowl. This was likely one of the "resident" cooper's as they have been seen fairly regularly over the past few years.
I think this one is the male
Later on in the month, high up in a tree, (but not far from where we had seen the one above) we spotted what I think is the female. The breast markings are slightly different and she (?) seemed larger than the other one. which is the norm with these birds.
Someone, after I posted it on a birding website, identified it as a juvenile, so perhaps I am corrected (but it could be a female juvenile)
The lake was still frozen over early in the month, but two Canada geese needed some convincing there was no open water for them
Two, close to shore, found sheltered open water on the river
Other geese were finding open skies
A few weeks later, some of the geese were getting a bit testy
The mallards certainly reflect the sun nicely
Later in the month, with the ice having gone out on most of the lake, some of the mallards had moved up to the Lake
It was interesting that the mallards didn't seem to mind sharing their cracked corn with a ring-billed gull, but not with other mallards.
Lady Jane mallard posed for a quick portrait shot before going after the corn.
At mid month, a pair of (camera shy) hooded mergansers were still around and at least one wood duck had returned from the south.
Lots of red-winged blackbirds and a good number of cardinals were about. A few song sparrows could be heard too.
The chickadees were only too happy to be offered handouts
A muskrat had emerged from its long winter sleep and was on the prowl for some weeds to eat
The painted turtles had emerged as well in the warm days of early March. Looking for some warmth on a log
Some fungus was clinging to a cut end and ice was clinging to a twig
The ends of sumac tree branches always show nicely backlit
Some woodpeckers had been working a tree which was still alive and "bleeding" sap.
This pileated might be one of the perpetrators.....
The glacier erratic has been all cleaned up, no more graffiti (for now) and the new bridge is finally in
