Cackling Goose, Charlestown

Hands down my favorite time of year.  Waterfowl migration along the Connecticut River is awe-inspiring in the truest sense of the word.  Today, March 20th, a cackling goose amongst about 5,000 Canada Geese was the best of 17 species of waterfowl, including gadwall (Hinsdale and Walpole), pintail (Hinsdale), and Am. Wigeon (Walpole).  I had the, or another cackling goose heading north past Bellow’s Falls (pictured) during an evening migration watch.

Snow Geese, Walpole

A canvasback at Hinsdale yesterday makes 18 species for the weekend and 21 for the CT river season so far (long-tailed duck, greater scaup and Barrow’s goldeneye all recently).  Three eastern meadowlarks in Walpole were also noteworthy.  I include a picture taken last week of an eagle bringing material to a nest on the lower CT river.

Bald Eagle, CT River