I felt certain the summer-like weather yesterday would bring out the turtles, and I wasn't disappointed. Especially since I spotted this little fellow, no more than 3 inches in length. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a hatchling from an over-wintered egg. It's the smallest one I have seen to date at the marsh. (Note the snail at the lower right hand corner of the shot.)
What I also discovered yesterday, in the same small pool below the sewage lagoon, were these two tadpoles, just below the surface of the water. They are probably bullfrog tadpoles. Apparently bullfrogs don't reach the adult stage until their third summer after hatching.
Yesterday I finally got a shot of one of the tree swallows that have returned to the marsh. It's a delight to watch their aerial displays as they feed over the water, and to hear their cheery conversations.
I didn't take this shot, my son did, last Sunday afternoon, and it wasn't taken at the marsh but on the Annapolis River. I wanted to include it here as I've never seen one of these birds before, and I imagine not many people have. It took some time for us to identify the bird, but we're almost certain it was a red-throated loon. Apparently they are seen here in the province in the spring and again in the fall, during migration. They breed in the far north and winter along the Atlantic coast. This one is not in breeding plumage, so doesn't have its red throat yet.
I mentioned I had been hearing the pied-billed grebes for a while, but hadn't seen one. On Sunday I got my first sighting, and as luck would have it, was able to get a shot of it while it was making its distinctive throaty call. It seemed as though the sound was made in its throat - in this shot, you can see the throat is distended - but apparently the beak does open as well, as I saw when I viewed this YouTube video of a grebe in full voice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVPAXlH7vHw
On my walk last Sunday, I heard the tell-tale sound of a woodpecker, and located it at the top of this dead poplar tree. As you can see, the tree has been well explored for grubs and other tasty tidbits that live in the dead tissues of the tree. I'm pretty sure this is a hairy woodpecker. but I couldn't get close enough to make a definite identification.
I found Mother Goose sitting on her nest yesterday, but didn't see Dad until I got to the other side of the trail and found him feeding on the bank. As I approached he slipped into the water and swam over to join his mate. I'm not absolutely sure it is the same gander, as he does not seem to keep as close to the goose as in previous years. Also, he doesn't swim towards me when I talk to him, as the older bird usually did. I thought last season he didn't appear to be as chipper as usual. Perhaps something happened to him over the winter, and the goose took a new partner. Or of course I could be completely wrong! At any rate, by mid-May we should be seeing a new crop of goslings.
I saw a male Northern Shoveler a few days ago, and have been hearing a Pied-billed Grebe, but no sightings as yet, as they're hidden in the phragmites. And the Tree Swallows have arrived! I had begun seeing clouds of midges in the last few days, so knew it wouldn't be long before the swallows made an appearance. I hope to get some shots of them tomorrow.
I know this is the time for Easter eggs, but there are other kinds of eggs that some of us nature-minded folk are interested in at this time of year. In my case it's those of the waterfowl that inhabit our local marsh, especially the Canada geese that have made it their nesting ground for several years now. When I approached the little island in the marsh's centre this morning, I saw who I call 'Mother Goose' plucking down from her body to line her nest in the island's centre, the same spot she has used for several seasons. So the cycle begins anew . . . how Easter-like!
I thought I'd better check the marsh this morning for any new arrivals, since by the sounds of things the weather might not be very conducive for marsh walking for a bit. Many buffleheads are scattered throughout the marsh, with courtship displays in full swing. I couldn't help but laugh out loud while watching a pair of males strut their stuff in front of a seemingly inattentive female this morning. Several black ducks and ring-necks were resting on the little round island in the middle of the marsh, but the other inhabitants took a bit of sleuthing to find. It paid off, as I found one male American wigeon (top photo) sounding its two-note call, two pairs of wood ducks, and one male green-winged teal. I'm sure there are more about, just keeping a low profile.
The painted turtles were obviously enjoying the sun's warmth so much this morning that I had to get a few shots for the blog, as doubtless they will be returning to the mud at the pool's bottom when the temperatures drop tomorrow. In the top shot, the turtle's bright yellow bottom shell (plastron) is clearly visible. The turtle in the bottom shot was slowly swimming toward the pool's edge, with just its head above the surface of the water.
When I neared the pool below the sewage lagoon this morning, I heard a scurrying in the reeds that bordered the pool. It was a good-sized painted turtle, that quickly sank into the water. I saw two more basking in the sun's warmth at the pool's edge, then this one at another spot. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised that the warm temperatures brought them out of their winter's bed, but a whole month early?? Last year's first sighting was April 23rd.
