Sun-Filled Days

Photographer captures early mornings during spring on the floodplain

Ellen Kenny | May 10, 2019

Tags:: Wildlife

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.

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 singing from 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.