Thursday, March 6, 2025

Above freezing last night and over 50F today. But clouds and fog created by sublimating snow kept the air temperature moderate.

We’ve been hearing and seeing red-winged blackbirds on nearby conservation lands for nearly a week. The first one arrived in our yard today. A male with muted epaulets, as he wasn’t defending a territory.

31. Red-winged blackbird

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Ravens are becoming more common in southeastern, New Hampshire, including around our neighborhood. There is some dismay about this trend as they are smart and predatory on some other favored species such as nesting turtles.

A pair of raven rolled and twisted in close formation in high winds this afternoon as they flew by our house. They are magnificent flyers on long, elegant wings. They have a huge beak and jet black feathers and a wedge-shaped tail. Their croaks are more enchanting than a crow’s cawing.

30. Common raven

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

The temperature at 5 AM this morning was 36F. A large slab of snow hangs off our back roof, having slid off the solar panels during the night. The pace of snow melt will quicken this week as daytime temperatures reach nearly 50F.

Yesterday, on the first 40 degree day, two chipmunks emerged from their winter burrows. They’ve been staying curled up in their winter dens as February has been cold and windy. Like us they are seeking warmth and new growth.

Ten turkeys made a brief stop in our yard again this morning. They walk down the road from their overnight roost in a stand of pines, heading south to feed in the woods and fields. The snow is still a foot deep, but the fertile fronds of sensitive ferns–a favorite winter turkey food–stick up above the snow.

Downy and red-bellied woodpeckers are daily visitors to the suet feeders. This morning a pair of hairy woodpeckers found the suet. The first time this year that I saw a male hairy.