Sunday I saw my first Turkey Vulture of the season in a meadow in Orono. The bird groomed itself in the sun for a long time, then glided to the ground to nibble at an extremely dead raccoon. A dozen yards away a pair of Sandhill Cranes poked in the grass for seeds, occasionally announcing their presence. This morning (Monday) the melt water edging our pond held a pair of Mallards and a lone male Wood Duck. We are sneaking up on spring.