Sunday, 07 March 2010 Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, Saugerties A quick walk through the meadow and wetlands at EBNP this morning revealed four first-of-season Wood Ducks (all drakes) and six Hooded Mergansers (three drakes/three hens), along with several Common Mergansers, several pairs of Mallards, and one pair of Black Ducks. Oddly, the pair of Mute Swans that have nested in the cove for several consecutive years were no where in sight, and Canada Geese were noticeably absent on this occasion.
The interior pools are thawing around their periphery, and the wetlands were dotted with numerous well-developed mottled red flower buds of Skunk Cabbage, ready to unfurl if the temperatures remain mild. Steve M. Chorvas Saugerties, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
