First Blush

A New Hampshire Journal

Late April, and flowers on the red maples bring a Spring blush to the woods

(In a “normal” winter/spring here, the lake would still be ice-covered until around April 25. This year the ice was out the first week of March)

Which Duck Is This?

Anyone recognize this duck ? We have several duck species on our lake at present: Mallard, Common Merganser, Bufflehead, but this guy with black head and neck and long black/white banded beak I cannot find in my books. Any experts on New England water birds out there?

 

BTW in other bird news: the Great Blue Heron arrived today. But the Bald Eagle pair have been gone for a week: did the warm spell send them north?  Are they off hunting and will return? Did the emerging boaters disturb them? Who knows eagle behavior?

Spring Arrives (indoors)

 

Outside three inches of April snow; indoors an orchid blooms.