Bolton Flats/Oxbow NWR (4/1)

On Saturday I spent the day exploring Bolton Flats and Oxbow NRW. I started at Bolton Flats hoping to see the Snipe that had been reported there late in March. At the first pool I spooked a pair of the birds and they called as they flew away. I seemed to "chase" these same two birds as I went from pool to pool.

The refuge was filled with waterfowl, including Wood Ducks, Black Ducks, Green winged Teal, and Widgeon (I think... the low light made the birds difficult to identify). The river itself was also pretty busy. A Kingfisher called down at me from a tree and a Great Blue Heron was hunting along the banks of the river. Several Eastern Phoebes swooped down over the water to catch insects.

But the best thing about the day was that the herps were finally back. Several male Wood Frogs quacked from the stagnant remnant of last Fall's flooding. Spring Peepers called loudly from the reeds. Best of all, I was able to stumble upon a few snakes (I think that they were Common Garter Snakes but I always have trouble with Garter/Ribbon identification).

I also found what I've been told were some "burrows" of ground bees.

After finishing up at the flats, I drove over to Oxbow. Many of the birds were matched what I was able to find at the flats but I did come across a Turkey milling around (watch out buddy, hunting season is almost here) and some Blue Birds.

It was even warm enough for some of the early season butterflies. Both a Morning Cloak and a Compton's Tortoiseshell were fairly actively patrolling the path. I only got a quick glance at the Cloak but the tortoiseshell taunted me by allowing me to get only so close before flying away.

Further up the path I found some vernal pools along the train tracks. They looked pretty full but some were still partially frozen. In the open pools, a few Wood Frogs had already moved in. One female was obviously getting much more attention from the males than she really wanted.

The turtles were also out getting some sun. I saw only Eastern Painted Turtles, no Blanding's Turtles yet.

Total day's list:

Birds - Kingfisher, Tree Swallow, Red Tailed Hawk, Wood Duck, Canada Goose, Black Duck, Green Winged Teal, Red Winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Snipe, Eastern Phoebe, Flicker, Downey Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Morning Dove, Killdeer, Turkey, Eastern Blue Bird, Chickadee

Herps - Garter Snake(?), Wood Frog, Green Frog, Spring Peeper, Painted Turtle

Butterflies - Morning Cloak, Compton's Tortoiseshell, Spring Azure