swallows

There are two kinds of swallows that regularly hang out near our pond.  Both species are aerial insectivores, which means they are so agile they can eat and drink all they need while flying.  They “swallow" food with their mouth open as they soar through a group of flying insects.  They dip their beaks to sip water as they glide low over a pond or lake.  They eat mosquitoes, flies, grasshoppers, beetles, moths and other flying insects in mid air.  Small birds with long wings, they can make sharp turns at high speeds in order to catch hundreds of insects each day. Swallows are most often a welcome sight with their voracious appetite for flying insects – a good mosquito control method.

Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor are iridescent blue with a white front and underparts  nest in cavities . . .  old woodpecker holes or a nestbox like Bluebirds.

The Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica has a deeply forked tail, dark feathers and rust colored throat and  under parts.  This 6" long bird lives in farmlands, suburbs, and wetlands. Because they make nests of mud in barns, on ledges, or under eaves, the location of their nests sometimes make them a pest.
Photo below: Barn Swallow

thistle

We have been watching this thistle plant, while removing the other "field" thistles from the wetland area.  Probably 'Musk Thistle' Carduus nutans, or ‘Plumeless Thistle’ Carduus acanthoides, the seed germinated last summer.  It over wintered as a rosette protected by leaf litter and a cover of snow.

We noticed this rosette among the ground clutter after the snow melted.  Through May, it resumed vegetative growth.  It is growing tall now, and branching out to produce numerous large flower heads.
This particular plant is just a lot of green now, hiding among more green.

But when it finally blossoms, you will not be able to miss the deep purple magenta flowers!

After blooming and setting seed the whole plant will die, thereby completing the life cycle.
But this plant can produce 120,000 seeds that could germinate this season and form little rosettes to wait out winter.  Rather than allow this species to spread and become a nuisance in the pond area, DNR recommends control before flowering.  We will enjoy the beginning of flowering and try to cut off development of any seeds.

Mallard chicks

A pair of Mallards showed up with ducklings on the pond.  There were only six ducklings today, and they looked older than the brood of eleven  that we saw on May 15.  We can't know if this is the same or a different brood, but it seems like the young here are appropriately more mature.  The bills are longer and their feathers seem smoother than the ducklings we saw before.   (right: closeup of one of the 6)

nestbox terror

Both adult Red-wing Blackbirds have been very aggressive in this wetland area. They regard the entire pond and shoreline as "their" territory.

The male attacks or takes flight after other birds, even larger Crows. He loudly protests Starlings that feed at the shoreline.  He has chased away Chickadees, Tree Swallows, and Bluebirds that tried to nest in the boxes intended for them, just because he does not want them nearby.

The female Blackbird claimed all the seed feeders near the pond as her personal property, and persecuted all other birds who tried to feed at any of them.  When the feeder on our deck was taken away, she stood on the deck rail and demanded we put it back.

RWBB nest

The Red-winged Blackbird nest is hidden in vegetation at the far end of the pond.  The female was in the nest when I approached.  The male adult protested my presence there, flying over my head while squawking loudly. He brushed against my hat several times to make sure I knew he was serious.

Hidden in marsh vegetation, the female had built a sturdy cup of grass a few feet out from the shore.  Suspended above the water and lashed to stiff standing reeds from last season, the nest is purposely hard to reach.  She had built it of grass, reeds, leaves, rootlets, and lined it with fine grass.  While I watched, she only squashed down further in the nest to hide her eggs.

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus typically have 3 or 4 eggs in a clutch, and they may have a second clutch each season.

Phoebe

The Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe is one species in the family of Tyrant Flycatchers.  Phoebe is mostly insectivorous. It forages by watching from a perch, flying out for insects, and catching them in mid-air.  This is called a "sallying" style – flying up  directly from their perch to catch an insect and then immediately return to the same perch.  In some cases, Phoebe will take an insect from foliage while hovering briefly.  The pond area is replete with insects in the air and on the plants around it.  The branch on the feeder pole is a good 'sallying' perch.

grackle and turtle

Grackles Quiscalus quiscula forage on the ground. Food items might include seeds, acorns, fruits, and garbage. In summer their diet includes grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, spiders, mollusks, fish, frogs, salamanders, and mice.  

Maybe this Grackle was so intent on diet he did not notice the Painted Turtle passing nearby on the shore of the pond.

early meadow rue

Early Meadow Rue Thalictrum dioicum is also called Quicksilver Weed.  The small flowers will open into fuzzy clusters.  The foliage is a pleasing blue-green color.  This specimen is coming up among other plants hiding beneath the young trees.  Early Meadow Rue often likes moist partly shaded areas, so this one will thrive in the position it has chosen near the pond. 

I believe that plants actually move to where they can optimally survive.  If a seed falls in suitable habitat for the plant to thrive and reproduce, then it does so.  If the seed falls in a less-than-perfect place, then it withers. This way, plants move from generation to generation, even as the climate changes.

wildflowers May

Wildflowers are blooming around the pond.  3-1/2" of rain yesterday will encourage more blooms.
Ox-eye Daisy (top), Golden Alexanders (middle), and White Campion (bottom).

Sandpiper

This morning a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius was finding a meal -- small invertebrates,  crustaceans, or insects -- among the reeds on the shore.

They nest on the ground near water, so we will be looking for Sandpiper nests as we do citizen science for NestWatch this season.
https://nestwatch.org/

eagle nest

The eagle nest near the pond is surrounded by more leaves each day.  The tree is healthy and shelters the Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus family well.  The strong forked branches are big enough to support the huge nest that has been here several years.  Surrounding their tree, the eagles have fields and several wetlands to hunt for food. 

emerged

We have been watching the cocoon since it was re-attached to a willow stem two days ago.  Today the Polyphemus silk moth Antheraea polyphemus emerged.  This adult will live 3 or 4 days. She will not hunt or feed, only seek a mate in her short existence in this form. The life cycle will start again when she lays eggs; the eggs will hatch caterpillars that will eventually cocoon to become as handsome as this adult.  Look closely -- the 'eye spots' are as transparent in real life as they look!

what is it May 2020

I found an unfamiliar object on a twig laying on the ground near the pond. Deer have browsed the willow shoots in that area, and this was cut but left behind. The object seemed like a gall or growth rather than a seed pod.  It has dried leaves curled around it, and looks to be attached to the twig with a web-like or woven material.  I asked my friends on Botanical Wanderings for ID help -- it is most likely the cocoon of a native silk moth. If so, it should emerge in the next few weeks. Hopeful, I tied it to a sandbar willow branch near where I found it, since willow a host plant where giant silk moths lay their eggs.

Tree Swallow pairing

Several Tree Swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, are flying around above the pond, estimating the area as a food resource.  They also checked in to the two nestboxes here.  We think they approve, signaled by them placing a few grasses in the boxes.

Painted Turtle

Lack of rain has exposed some of the rocks in the pond as water level recedes.  The Painted Turtles Chrysemys picta climb on the rocks to bask in the sun.  Females grow to 10 inches, while males are slightly smaller at full size.  They are common in Minnesota, and sometimes called "mud turtles".

Mallard ducklings

The female Mallard appeared on the pond today with 11 ducklings in tow.  It is hard to tell exactly how many hours old they are since we did not track the nest or hatch time.  They stayed by Mom at first, but all swam vigorously as they got used to the water.

muskrat take-in dinner

This adult Muskrat is probably taking a meal home to the nest.  They can bear more than one litter per year.  Carrying this much food, rather than eating on the spot, suggests this adult has a litter unable yet to feed on their own.  In Minnesota, Muskrats, Ondatra zibethicus, eat vegetation they they find and harvest in wetlands.  They weigh 2 to 5 pounds, and live in burrows or domed nests on the edge of ponds or streams.

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus is setting his territory around the pond.  The water is surrounded by grasses, rushes, shrubs, and wildflowers -- perfect habitat for the nests that female blackbirds will build.  But this bird is a bully -- he chases every other songbird.  The Tree Swallows tried to inspect the nestbox intended for them and the Blackbird displayed his beautiful wing epaulets while screeching at them.

Grosbeak

This Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
male paused on the deck rail for a moment after he helped himself to sunflower seeds from the bird feeder.

It is always easy to tell adult males from females -- he is a black-and-white bird with a brilliant rose-red chevron extending from his black throat down the middle of the breast.

A female adult is not black and white, but heavily streaked brown shades with a lighter eye stripe.

But juvenile males are not easily recognized.  Their first plumage is like their mother, streaky brown with gold brown breast.  In their hatch year, male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are streaky brown overall with white patches on the primary wing feathers and pink patches on the underwings.  Females in their hatch year are streaky brown overall with small white patches on the primaries and yellow patch on the underwing.

RBG usually nest in a vertical fork or crotch of a sapling.  There are plenty of saplings around the pond.

Mallard bath

These two Mallards are cleaning up.
Each duck dips the front of her or his body into the pond and splashes water on the rest of their body.  Ducks' feathers make them buoyant so they can roll, rock, shake, and wiggle their tail and still stay afloat.

bald eagle

Bald Eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus

nest near the pond. 
Near enough for the adult Eagles to
 glide over the wetland

 in search of meals for their brood.
  

We cannot see into the nest, high in

 a tree, but before the leaves unfurl we can see little fuzzy nestlings when they lean up to beg for food.

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor have arrived after migrating from southern USA or Mexico where they spend winter. This bird showed off his iridescent dark blue feathers while taking a rest on a branch over the pond.  Tree Swallows feed on flying insects that they catch on the wing.

mallard

Female Mallard frolicking on the water?  Not a frolic -- she was having a bath.  Standing on a submerged rock, she dipped her bill and dabbed her feathers with water.  Later she swam to the shore and tidied herself on the sunny grass.  Ducks such as Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) have a preen gland that produces oil. Using the bill, they smooth their feathers and spread the preen oil to condition them.  All birds need to maintain their plumage . . .  re-position feathers, interlock feather barbules that have become separated, and remove parasites from their body or plumage.

Hooded Merganser defending territory

Hooded Mergansers have been visiting the pond to dive and feed underwater.  Some days, two pairs show up; there seems to be room for all of them on the pond. But when a bachelor shows up by himself, and swims too close to a female, the paired males signal him to go away.

muskrat tail

The muskrats are nocturnal; we usually see them around the pond later in the day. 
Muskrats use their tails as rudders to steer themselves in the water and for a little extra propulsion.
Their tails have scales instead of fur.  A muskrat tail is long, thin, and roundish, flattened side to side.
Muskrats use their tails as rudders to steer themselves in the water and for a little extra propulsion.