A Wide Range of April Images.......

From bottom to top..........

- This recent photo, taken in a nearby residential area, shows why the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus) is still the standard bearer when it comes to springtime brilliance of flowers. The forests in our area seem to be full of them this year.

- Taken along Blackberry Trail recently.... within our mountain properties.... The Pinxter Flower....some are pink...some are white.....all are striking and beautiful.

- Love on the water.....male (left) and female Wood Ducks on Lake George.....

- The familiar profile of The Common Grackle (Quiscalus). These large (to 14") 'blackbirds' often reflect iridescence on the primary feathers, especially when exposed to sunlight. Comparable is the smaller Rusty Blackbird (to 9")...that is only rusty in the autumn....otherwise this species is often referred to simply as a 'blackbird'.....though we have several 'black birds'. This time of year, the Brown-Headed Cowbird may also be seen....which, as the name implies, looks (the male) like a brown headed medium sized 'blackbird'.

- As luck would have it.....a few days ago....while standing on the bank of Lake George, two Ospreys came flying by....one continued on into oblivion...the other alighted in a tree across the lake from me. Unbeknown to me, two Common Grackles (one can be seen across the left shoulder of the Osprey...the other is blocked by the tree to the left) were harassing this Osprey from behind (in the photograph....the Osprey is looking at the Grackle). This is not a unique occurrence....as often other birds of prey (hawks especially) are accompanied by hecklers...though actual contact is infrequent.