March 14, 2026

Just east of the dam, the Connecticut is broken ice.  It's beautiful out there.

When one gets up early to be at the hospital for an MRI first thing in the morning, one feels vulnerable, or a little unstable.  My legs and back are pretty wobbly today, getting up and down is painful and this bench, although kind of interesting to look at, is not really inviting.

My experience in radiology was once again quite good.   Technicians are pleasant and informative in that they prepare you for what is to happen. I felt well taken care of and await the results.

Today was a good birding day.  I woke up to my Junco, blue jays and sparrows in the driveway and went on up to the rookery. It was chilly and there were snow showers and I thought the wind would get bad, but I don't think it did. 

There were 14 turkeys on Bardswell Ferry Rd.  Their feathers imitate the early spring brown fields.  The only thing I saw beginning to pop  today was Pussy Willow.  

No sign of the turkey vultures nor the carcass.

I picked up Clara and we went to the Connecticut to see the ice dams east of the bridge.  What was smooth white landscape 4 days ago was breaking ice dislodging and moving towards the falls.  It's so fascinating. 

We sat and watched this space open up and get bigger and bigger where we were, but it was damming up right below us.  Large logs were interspersed in the ice floats.   The birds were staying away.  2 geese flew out over it, looked like they were about to land and immediately turned around and went back to the open waters.

Here we saw Canada Geese, swans, mallards.  We saw one eagle fly over, but no other big birds perching in high trees.

This week was one for the books, it established the meaning of "it's an emergency, but you can't do anything, yet.  Yeah, take it all very seriously, it is an emergency, but no, wait 3 to 4 weeks before you look for answers. "  I'm supposed to take it all seriously, but don't do anything differently.  And the worst part of it is the pain.  I'm hoping some questions will be answered in the next few days and I promise I will roll with the punches,   but I really am tired of the situation.

And in the Canal there were 20 or so mergansers   This female looks like she's testing the waters, but she did just plop in and swim.  The fact that those little bodies are kept warm in the freezing water is amazing to me.  The mergansers are so playful, I am so happy they are back.  

I realize every year I have to relearn my duck names.  I thought maybe I'd hold on to them this year, but I didn't.  I know the Common Merganser and I know the Hooded Merganser, but there is another little duck in there whose name I do not remember.  But he's a dunking duck, too.