More spring arrivals

Red-winged Blackbird, Quabbin Park, March 19, 2011
Common Grackle, Quabbin Park, March 19, 2011

I spent the last two morning checking Quabbin Park to see what new birds have arrived with the rapidly approaching spring and I found a few despite the fact that the main reservoir continues to be frozen solid. The Bald Eagle nest continues to have an adult sitting on it, waterfowl in the open water of the Route 9 marsh included Hooded and Common Mergansers, Wood Ducks, Mallards and Canada Geese, Red winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles have arrived and staked out territories. In addition I found my first of season Tree Swallows at the marsh. To round out the mornings I had a pair of River Otters working the marsh too.