How much wood can a Woodchuck chuck?

The trail camera position was a dismal failure thanks to a raccoon shifting the camera that I had placed in an already precarious position facing the Groundhog hiding hole.  I got enough shots of the raccoon's face to know he was the culprit.

I got a very poor shot with the camera this morning as I was walking down to retrieve the trail cam. It is extremely skittish and runs to the hole as soon as it sees you so this shot was taken from some distance away and the light was bad.

I changed the position of the trail cam and left it down low for several hours and have just changed it up higher and will leave it there for a day or two.  With rain in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday  perhaps the lower position would be better but I will shift it on Wednesday.

The appearance of the Woodchuck aka Groundhog, Marmot, Whistle-pig answers some questions I had about some small saplings that had been chewed off.  I was beginning to think that perhaps a beaver had found its way to the pond.

Speaking of beavers, the beaver at the park was out early snagging some greenery.  I only got a couple of shots before it went in to its lodge.

There was an almost noticeable feel of energy and excitement in the air today among the birds.  It is almost like someone opened a big bird cage door and let all the migrants out.   I have heard quite a few warbler songs today, the Great Crested Flycatcher has been screeching and what year round birds that had not already started their nest were working hard on them today.

Reflection

I did not go out long this morning as I was trying to finish sanding and staining my Grandmother's pie safe that I had been stripping.  When my Grandmother passed, that was one of the things I wanted and none of the other grandchildren seemed to have an interest in it.  To the best the family can figure it is close to 90 years old.

A quick walk through at the park where I went to check the Bluebird boxes, I saw this Mallard and thought the reflection in the water was quite nice.

Just a few minutes ago I went down to put out some food for the deer and spotted two new creatures in the area.  Of course the scurried in to a hiding hole but I feel sure with the quick look I got that they are Groundhogs.  In all the years I have been living here I have never seen one around.  I came back up to the house to get the trail camera and clippers to try and fix an area to catch them coming out of their hole.  I know any night shots will be a white-out since I have it set very close but I am after day shots anyway.  Hopefully tomorrow something will be on the trail cam.

5+ Feet of a Not Happy Snake

Warm weather brings them out and this one was in the yard today.  It really did not like being disturbed and I really did not like it being that close to the house.  No, I didn't kill it but highly discouraged it from calling the yard home.  Where are the hawks when you need them?

White-eyed Vireo

 The fun has begun.  New migratory birds are arriving daily.  Bird songs not heard since last season fill the trees.

Courting Kingfishers

After several days of feeling under the weather, I ran by the park just a minute on my way to school today.   I monitor the Bluebird boxes there and usually go on Monday but the weather was rainy yesterday.  Since my check last week one box now has two eggs and the nest has been completed in two other boxes.

I did a quick walk through just to see if anything was happening.  It was close to 10:00 so things had already settled down a bit....with the exception of the Kingfisher couple.











Their rattle echoed across the pond and they chased and talked to each other quite a bit.  Looks like the bond is being established so hopefully little ones later in the year.  They were so much fun to watch last year with the adults teaching the young ones.


           

Warblers!

I met a couple of friends this morning to do a recon down at the river to see what had come in.  The clouds moved in much earlier than anticipated and a light drizzle every now and then so we did not stay long.  Driving down the dirt path to the river I had the window rolled down and it sounded like a symphony to my ears.  One thing for sure if you can't see them, at least you know they are present by their song.

Most were up in the trees and you can't get a decent shot against a gray sky background.  We did see and was confirmed by all three of us a Prothonotary, Northern Parula and I did manage to get a so-so shot of a Yellow-throated Warbler and a Common Yellowthroat that were closer to the ground.

Looking back at photos from last year, we are definitely running behind.  I think the cooler weather has delayed arrival.  I figure by next week if the weather holds, birding should be getting very exciting.


We had started back up towards the vehicles since a fairly good drizzle was starting when I heard the unmistakable sound of Wood Ducks coming in.  A local group has placed several houses in a swampy area near the river and it looks like a pair was going to make use of one.  Definitely not a very good shot but it was fast and I was not at a good vantage point.  Oh well, you have to try.

Brown-headed CowbIrds

male

As sure as spring arrives and nest building begins, the Brown-headed Cowbirds show up and begin scoping out prospective nests to parasitize.  This pair showed up today and began intently watching. When they would spot what looked like nest building activity, they would move in for a closer look.
 
Sneaky little devils leaving the hard work of feeding to other birds.

female