I visited the far bog to check out the beaver den yesterday during mid-afternoon. I did not have high hopes of a beaver sighting but thought I could spot some ducks, perhaps Mallards or the more exciting wood ducks. It was not even five minutes into my stakeout when a pair of wood ducks paddled past the beaver den. Here an adult female calmly moves through the thicket beyond the den.
photography
Ducks arrive at the far bog
An unruly flight of wood ducks repeatedly cruised over the bog this afternoon. Perhaps they were dismayed by the remaining snow and ice. Didn’t they enjoy the 60F temperature? Maybe these boys of Spring were looking for some ladies?
Ducks on ice
Spring in Maine is typically a transition. A group of ducks adjust to the realities by sunning themselves on an ice field near Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine.
Mallards cruising the creek
A pair of mallards cruise the flooded creek near our house earlier this week.
Springtime heron
After seeing an adult night heron hanging around the pond, we spotted this young one a few days later. This bird seemed totally oblivious or unconcerned about our creeping along the shore.
Heron by the brook
Ladies first
Kingfisher fishing
A saw a belted kingfisher dive into the pond and pop out of the water. He headed for the nearest sturdy branch and proceeded to dramatically shake something in his mouth for a minute or two. It was only after zooming in on the image did I understand what he was up to.
Heron on the rock
In mid-afternoon, a black-capped night heron contemplates opportunities. He arrived unannounced and looked around for a good fifteen minutes or more, and departed.
Early spring swim
A young duckling, perhaps a hooded merganser, cruises slowly on a Connecticut pond during a frosty Spring afternoon.
john's f-stop 