MORE FROM HUNTLEY MEADOWS

I am starting off with photos Gregg took.  It looked like a male immature Red-winged Blackbird.

It is a delightful bird and is the first bird where I learned its call.  Once learned never forgotten, so it always brings a smile when I hear it in Huntley Meadows.  You can listen to its call at this link.  

We noticed a lot of the bushes had these bright red berries.

When we got to the marsh area I spotted one solitary turtle on a log.  It seemed to be the only one there.  I looked for a while and may have missed more, but it won't be long before its companions start showing up.

For the ducks there were numerous wooden boxes, and new long circular shapes filled with what looked like straw.  I couldn't find any information about them, unless a blogging friend out there can help me out.  Open on at least one end, maybe all the way through.  

The visitor center was closed, but I will stop there first and ask on our next visit, if I don't find out in the meantime.  I came across a short article on line from one of the volunteers who maintain the wooden boxes here.

Two duck photos, of mallards...

and one of Northern Pintails.  My previous post on ducks can be found at this link for ease of access. Otherwise you can just click on 'older posts' at the end of the page if you haven't seen it already.

Lots of people at the park today.  

The weather was perfect for the time of year.  Sunny and in the mid 50s.

Lots of dogs being walked, along with lots of kiddos...

and daddies out with the kiddos giving the mums a break I'm thinking.

This little one was carrying a teddy bear.  A lot of cute sights to see today.

Plenty of people on the walkway across the wetlands also.

The following area usually attracts a lot of fishing herons but I didn't see any today.  A lady showed me a photo she had taken of one.  When you stop to take a photo, invariably there will be some nice person who will start talking to you.  People always seem to be in their happy place here.

Signs of Spring to come.  That's Gregg on the left of the photo.

New leaves starting to sprout all over the park.  They are in their happy place too, and I am definitely in mine.

We found Huntley Meadows several years ago and all told I have about 50 posts. You can see them here if you want to go through some of them.  The last trip was in September 2019.