After snapping a shot of a turtle in the pond alongside the railway bed this morning, I turned to the other side of the trail and saw this shape, which I first took to be a large bird, sitting in a bush staring at me. I then realized it was this red squirrel. It wasn't a place where I expected to see a squirrel.
This painted turtle was sunning itself on the edge of the little pool below the sewage lagoon this morning. I was able to get quite close without disturbing it. Apparently turtles can see and smell very well, but their hearing is less well developed. They rely more on vibrations than sound.
The yellow-rumped warblers have arrived in full force at the marsh. Just about everywhere I looked this morning, there was another of the birds. Apparently they are the most abundant wood warbler in Canada. They are in bright breeding plumage at this time of year.
I have been noticing a pair of robins near the spot where a pair nested last year, but there was no nest in the old location. This morning I discovered their new nesting site, and got this quick shot when mother robin slipped onto the nest. You can just make her out behind all the branches.
The wet weather kept me from visiting the marsh for the last five days, and this time of the year, lots can change in five days. One thing I noticed this morning was these strange growths at the ends of branches on an ash tree. It turns out they are the beginning stages of the ash flowers. They look more like blackberries!
Father Gander was swimming over to meet me this morning when we were joined by my friend Winston (who probably walks the trail more than I do!). The goose gave him a stern warning not to get too close. Winston obliged.
I had my first sighting of a Yellow-rumped warbler yesterday afternoon at the marsh. I wasn't able to get a shot of it, however, although I made an attempt.
This song sparrow which I saw this morning was the first time this spring I have noticed a bird carrying nesting material. The marsh is favored breeding habitat for song sparrows. Her first nest may be on the ground under a grassy tuft; subsequent ones (they could have three broods in a season) would be in low shrubby growth.
I walked the trail Easter Sunday afternoon (as did a number of other people), and was particularly looking for painted turtles basking in the warm sun. I did find some, as well as a pair of grebes and a pair of muskrats in the same area. I happened to get one of the grebes just as a muskrat swam by.
Well, this morning I was finally able to get a shot of a painted turtle. I saw one yesterday for the first time, but was unable to get close enough before it slipped into the water. Today I happened to find where a number of them were basking in the warm sun, several on one of the muskrat lodges. This one was looking quite content.
I walked the trail twice yesterday, my usual walk in the morning, and then again in the evening. I was nearing the end of the trail - the sun had already set and the sky was a lovely blend of pink, lavender and blue - when this robin landed in a tree ahead of me. It turned out to be my favorite shot of the week.
Something else that was enjoying the sun at the marsh yesterday - this clump of Coltsfoot, an early spring wildflower. A number of these clumps can be seen on the edges of the slate path (the blossoms open when the sun shines). The flowers appear before the leaves, the shape of which probably give the plant its common name. Coltsfoot isn't a usual marsh habitat plant; I'm fairly certain it came with the slate. There is a slate quarry in Waldeck which is full of coltsfoot - I wouldn't be surprised that is where it originated.
Yesterday's sun and warmer temps brought out a number of the muskrats at the marsh. These two were in the little pool below the sewage lagoon. Since they were obviously enjoying each other's company, I'm assuming they are a breeding pair. I noticed they accessed the pool from the marsh via the drainpipe under the path.
Finally, I saw my first female red-winged blackbird at the marsh on Wednesday, the 20th. That's five weeks from the day I saw the first male. The males have already set up their territories, now the mate selection will begin. Males may have a 'harem' of several mates within their territories (females can breed in their first year, while males often don't until their second year). Nesting will begin in May.
I noticed this male Green-winged teal taking it easy among some grass clumps this morning. No sign of his mate, so perhaps she has begun to nest somewhere. Apparently they sometimes nest far from water, as do several of the ducks.
The water at the marsh was very choppy this morning, from the strong wind. The buffleheads were bobbing about like corks, but many of the other waterfowl were keeping closer to shore or laying low. The wood duck pair had found a fallen tree to sit and preen their feathers on. I guess the female still isn't ready to begin nesting.
Not a lot of photo-ops this morning at the marsh. Nothing new to report, other than I did hear three spring peepers two days ago. I'm still waiting to see my first female red-winged blackbird, and my first painted turtle - someone said they'd seen one just recently. The shot here is of Father Gander - the mate of the goose nesting on the round island. He had swum over to see me as I came by as he often does, but then some of the other geese started to honk, and he turned to investigate. I tried the poster edges filter on the shot, and really liked how it came out.
Yesterday morning I came upon dozens and dozens of tree swallows swooping about, landing in the trees and the tall grasses in the marsh, buzzing around me. It was magical. The top shot shows a number who perched along a cane, while the bottom shot shows one which landed on one of the nesting boxes. I nearly deleted that shot as I wasn't satisfied with the quality, but decided to try a 'poster edges' filter on it, and was pleased with the effect.
A couple of days ago, I spied this fellow in a hawthorn tree, chewing on an old haw. After it finished, it began to scratch itself, really going at it. I assume the warmer weather has brought out fleas and other pests that animals who live in the wild are constantly battling. This fellow had me laughing as he(she?) lifted first one front paw and then the other while it scratched itself with its hind feet.
This is a female bufflehead, and I'm quite sure it is the same bird in both photos; the top one was taken yesterday, the lower one this morning. The reason I chose to post these shots is that I've never seen a bufflehead when it wasn't in the water, and they always swim away from anyone who comes near. This bird, who seemed to be alert and otherwise okay, was sitting on the same clump of vegetation near one of the power poles on both days, and allowed me to come fairly close. I know they don't nest here. Another puzzle.
Yesterday for the first time I heard the distinctive yodeling song of a Pied-billed grebe, and spotted a pair among the reeds. I caught this one this morning as it was feeding. These little birds are my second favourites of the marsh waterfowl, with the Canada geese (particularly the original pair) holding top spot.
This is more like it. This morning there were several pairs of tree swallows gracefully swooping about at the marsh, singing their joyful songs, enjoying the warm temperatures - just in time to provide lunch on the wing. Although this one landed on one of the nesting boxes, it isn't thinking about nesting yet. Apparently they are slow to nest, May being the usual month.
This morning as I was passing some of the tree swallow nesting boxes, I was thinking to myself that I should be seeing the tree swallows any day now (last year I saw the first one on April 6th), when I heard the musical notes of a tree swallow, I kid you not. A pair swooped by in front of me, and this one landed (back to, sorry) for a fleeting moment on a twig. I hope the double-digit temperatures forecast for next week bring out the insects, or these birds will have slim pickings.
Looking for the wood ducks this morning, I walked up to the sewage lagoon. No wood ducks, but about a dozen buffleheads - and a muskrat! I first saw it swimming along, then it climbed out onto one of the aeration pipes that cross the lagoon and began to eat a piece of vegetation. I must say I was surprised to see a muskrat there - but they never cease to surprise me.
I had been hearing a cardinal in the area where the trail comes out on the rail bed off and on over the last week or so, but today was the first time I got a glimpse of it. I must have chased it from one tree to another for ten minutes before I could get a decent shot. It's easy to identify this gorgeous bird from its distinctive loud, clear whoit-whoit-whoit song. Not really a bird associated with a marsh habitat, but certainly with the adjacent 'open-edges' areas. This male has probably already established his territory.
The great blue heron pair were back at the same spot this morning (I'm assuming they are one of each, but I could be wrong; apparently the only difference in appearance between the male & female is that the male is a little larger). I took the shot at the top when I was getting a little too close for their liking, and they were keeping a wary eye on me. In the bottom shot, they were joined by one of the pair of Canada geese now at the marsh.
I found the following on the N.S. Dept. of Natural Resources website: "For the most part in Nova Scotia great blue herons nest on isolated islands, but colonies sometimes are found in forested inland locations. They often travel considerable distances from their nesting sites to feeding areas." Hmm. Apparently nesting begins in April or May. I wonder where in the area these birds nest??
I thought I'd check out the sewage lagoon this morning after I saw a pair of Canada geese fly in that direction. I didn't see the geese when I climbed the hill, but I did see a pair of birds on the grassy verge at the end of the lagoon. When I took a closer look through my binoculars, I discovered it was a pair of wood ducks, likely the same pair I saw in the marsh yesterday. This is the first time that I have seen these birds on land, although I know that they do forage in wooded areas (apparently they love acorns).
Although I've had a glimpse of these stately birds a couple of times in the past week, today was the first time this spring I saw a great blue up close. I spied one foraging along the shore's edge ahead of me and moved closer to get a good shot - when I noticed there were two birds searching in the shallows for food. The top shot shows how close to the trail they were, while the lower shot shows one just after it caught a minnow, which can be seen in its beak (if you look closely). I do wonder where in the area these birds nest.
There were three wood ducks on the marsh this morning, including this pair (there was another male as well). I expect it won't be long before the female settles into one of the nesting boxes.
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.
Yesterday I managed to walk the trail at the same time the four deer decided to make another appearance. I think it is a doe with triplets probably born last spring. Apparently young deer can remain with their mother for up to two years, particularly the females. Again, one of the youngsters seemed especially curious (bottom shot), coming down the path towards me, while the others crossed behind it.
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.
