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News

  • Acclaimed Cottrell-Baldwin Environmental Lecture Series Starts in March

    Anna Berry
    February 22, 2021

    The annual series has moved online this year, with experts exploring topics ranging from restoring wildlife habitat to foraging for edible native plants.

  • Cold is Cool Speaker Series Continues

    Anna Berry
    January 20, 2021

    Plug in to watch and learn from expert speakers and then unplug outside.

  • A New Way to See the Merrimack Watershed

    Anna Berry
    January 12, 2021

    Thanks to the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Merrimack has been cleaned up considerably over the last 50 years. But there is still work to be done.

Sun-Filled Days

Photographer captures early mornings during spring on the floodplain
Ellen Kenny
May 10, 2019
Wildlife
Newly unfurled ferns on the forest floor glow as though the ground were producing its own light.
Newly unfurled ferns on the forest floor glow as though the ground were producing its own light. All photos by Ellen Kenny.

With two consecutive sun-filled days, the annual spring spectacle on the floodplain has been in full swing this week. The early mornings have been stunning.  Newly unfurled ferns and Canada mayflowers on the forest floor glow as though the ground were producing its own light.

Hickory blossom in the morning light
Hickory blossom in the morning light.

Each day, more of our returning migrant birds can be seen and heard. On Monday, the wood thrush was back in place somewhere in the trees on the hillside to the left of the parking lot and rose breasted grosbeaks could be heard all along the back trail.

White throated sparrow perched on a branch
White-throated sparrow perched on a branch.

Veery singing during early spring
The name “Veery” was inspired by the song that males use to defend territory. The most common is a distinctive, abrupt veer or jeer note that can make these birds easy to find even when they are not singing. (Info courtesy Cornell Lab)

On Wednesday, in the flooded Mill Brook spill over area, the trees were hosting a flock of goldfinches, and on the floodplain, the orioles were calling back and forth in the treetops. The past two days, the leaf litter has been hopping with white throated sparrows, common yellow throats and veeries, and a pair of speckled sandpipers have been taking advantage of whatever food is to be found in the mud left by the receding flood waters along the brook.

Sandpiper on a log
Sandpipers are commonly seen in migration along the banks of ponds, creeks, and similar places to the floodplain.

Somehow, May on the floodplain delights me more with each passing year. 

Ferns emerge along the Les Clark Nature Trail at the floodplain
Ferns emerge along the Les Clark Nature Trail at the floodplain

Canada mayflower
Canada mayflower is a native lily also called "false lily of the valley."

A warbler perches on a branch
A warbler (possibly a yellow-rumped warbler?) is a welcome sight in early spring.

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Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
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