Taking flight

The geese were still on the marsh when I arrived this morning, but it wasn't long before they began to sound their departure calls.  When they rose into the air, I got this shot.  They headed northeast, perhaps to the Belle Isle Marsh.

Stopping for a visit

When I walked the trail on Saturday the 10th, I was happy to see some of the Canada geese back on the marsh. Of course they may have been making occasional visits to the marsh, but this is only the second time I've seen them here since the young ones began to fly. This is three of the seven that I saw.

Flying practice

I haven't mentioned our geese lately, but they are still present at the marsh. When I spotted them today way out in the middle, it was obvious they were getting ready to try a practice flight. Sure enough, they started their honking, and then took to the air. Well, a little bit of air, as you can see.

Nearly grown up

Would you believe these are the first family of the Canada geese? Hard to believe they were hatched on or about May 10th.

And then there was one. . .

I met the geese foraging alongside the trail this morning, but it wasn't until they returned to the water that I noticed the younger family only had one offspring (seen here to the right) instead of two. It looks like the second one must have met with an unfortunate end. The six young of the older pair are becoming hard to distinguish from their parents.

Taking a breather

'Mother Goose' and her six goslings were taking a break alongside the trail this morning, while 'Dad' stood watch. It doesn't take long for those youngsters to become gangly adolescents.

New marsh babies

I didn't get to the marsh today (I was digging in compost, etc. in my new veggie garden before the rain), but my son Chris did, and got this shot of the first new Canada geese family of the season. I thought the way the pair had been acting the last few days it wouldn't be long. 'Can't wait to see them for myself.

News flash - Mother Goose begins nesting

Mark your calendars. This morning I noticed that the goose of the original pair was sitting on her nest on the island where she has nested since first coming to the marsh. I watched her as she plucked down from her breast to line the nest. Once they are laid, she will incubate her eggs for about four weeks.

Double duty

Yesterday morning I noticed eighteen Canada geese at the marsh, including this pair, with the one atop a muskrat lodge. I wonder if it's the goose, pondering whether it would make a good nesting spot... Note the northern shoveler pair, the male in the water far right, and the female standing on a clump of vegetation.

Iconic October sight

About 30 of the Canada geese were still on the marsh this morning when I approached the viewing stand close to 11 a.m. Shortly afterward, they began to announce their take-off, and I caught them in flight with the trees of the North Mountain as backdrop, as they headed for the river. (Poster edges filter used here as well.)

Welcome visitors

While I was trying to get a shot of a downy woodpecker at one end of the marsh, I heard some geese fly into the other end. I have seen them fly over the town a number of times recently, but it had been a while since I had seen them on the marsh. This is three of the five that I saw.

Reaching the heights

Finally this morning I caught a few of the geese as they did a fly over. Luckily, they always announce their flight before take-off, so I had a few seconds to prepare. This time they didn't just fly a few feet above the water's surface, but soared over the tree tops. They'll be wandering farther afield now, although the marsh will remain their home base until they depart, probably in November.

Biding time

The Canada geese have been spending quite a bit of time on their own island the last few days (where the first nest was located). They were there again this morning. It won't be long now before flying lessons begin.

Seeing double

This has to be my favorite of this morning's 'photo shoot'. One of those shots that comes once in a season if you're lucky.

Golden goose

I walked the marsh trail last evening, and just before sunset, the water looked almost molten. The Canada geese were lazily feeding, and I was able to catch this one silhouetted against the sun.

Growing Fast

The young of the two older pair of Canada Geese have certainly changed in the last week. Now they're hard to tell apart from their parents. This shot was taken in the evening of June 18th.

And then there was one . . .

I hadn't seen the Canada Geese for a couple of days, which is not that unusual. The last time I had seen them, the pair that had the youngest brood (see post of June 11th) had only one of their original six young left, the others likely having fallen prey to predators. Yesterday morning I watched the family for several minutes, and noticed that the one remaining gosling stuck very close to its mother.

New Canada Goose brood

This Canada goose and her mate surprised me. These six babes hatched about May 30th, a month after those of the three other pair on the marsh, making a total of 19 young for this year. This shot was taken June 3rd.