hooded merganser ducklings

Today the Hooded Merganser female showed up on the pond with 15 ducklings.  This species nests in a cavity, probably in a tree or stump nearby. Once the eggs hatch, the ducklings follow the mother to water.   They fed for a while, then she signaled them to rest.  They followed her to shore and gathered under her wings. Well, sort of . . .  there were many of them!

They dive under water to find small fish, amphibians, clams, mud crabs, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs, and aquatic insects and other crustaceans. They also consume some aquatic plants.

mallard ducklings

 Mallard drake wants to keep an eye on his family.

bee swarm

On Friday, we noticed a blob of brown on a drooping branch on one the pine trees near the pond.  Close inspection revealed hundreds of Honey Bees clustered. The next day they were still gathered around that branch. We discovered with some research that when overcrowded in a hive, bees with divide their population then some will set out for a new hive. Scout bees look intensely for the new nest while the most of them wait together.  This probably saves energy and protects them by staying together in one place while the scouts scout.

By Sunday morning they had all gone from the tree branch, no trace left behind of their weekend stay.

convivial Merganser

Today the convivial Merganser shared the favored rock in the pond with a turtle.

The Hooded Mergansers  Lophodytes cucullatus have visited the pond several times in the last few weeks. We saw both females and males, usually in groups, and assumed they were probably stopping for rest or food while migrating. They are nicknamed 'divers' since they dive to feed on items under or in the water.

A few days ago, I noticed a single female Hooded Merganser lazing on the pond close to a male Mallard.  Neither seemed to be bothered by the other. She dived in deep water for food, he dabbled in shallow water for a snack.  They sunned themselves together all day long, complacently napping while floating in the sunshine.

The Mallard has been hanging around for weeks while his mate sits on her nest of eggs. Sometimes we see the pair of Mallards together when the female comes out for meals; they dabble together on the shores.  That day, the Merganser was happy to float with one or both.  This afternoon, she was again present and just as friendly to the turtle who had been sitting on the rock since morning. What a friendly neighbor to all.

blue-winged teal pair

The pair of Blue-winged Teal ducks were feeding on the pond this week.  They usually nest on the ground after the female selects a spot. She looks for a place near water with grass cover to hide her eggs.  

This pair of Teal Spatula discor  dabble to search among the reeds for something to eat.

Like many bird species, the female is drab speckled brown for hiding among grasses while nesting.  He is decked out for courting in colorful cinnamon front, speckled sides, black head with a white crescent on each side. Both have blue feathers on the wings which are displayed when they fly.
 

fox sparrow

A chunky long tailed Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca posed for the camera by the pond.  It is probably migrating to breeding grounds north of here, and stopped to snag some seeds or insects here.

phoebes

Phoebes, in the flycatcher family, arrived on the pond this week.  They went to their favorite 'jumping off place' to watch for and catch flying prey just above the water.  We watched them last summer -- every day sitting on the concrete outflow weir.  Each would fly down to the water, gobble the airborne insect, and take it to their nest where hatchlings waited for food.  I hope they nest here again this season!
 

spotted sandpipers

A flock of shorebirds stopped today at the pond on their migration trip.  Spotted Sandpipers Actitis macularius, catch food in several different ways.  Like most other sandpipers, they probe into sand or mud with their bills looking for food -- aquatic larvae of insects, beetles, worms, snails or crustaceans.  And like herons, they also lunge at moving small fish in the water, pick insects off plants, or snap at flying prey.

basking turtles

Many Painted Turtles Chrysemys picta live in the pond. On sunny days they climb out of the water and bask in the sun to warm their blood.  In this temperate Spring weather, they spread all their appendages including head and neck out of the shell to get maximum exposure.

blue-wing teal

Some waterfowl, Blue-winged Teal Anas discors, stopped on the pond today.  They are some of the last ducks to arrive each Spring on breeding grounds because of their long migration from South America or Mexico. Smaller than Mallards, each weighs 9 to 18 ounces. They feed by 'dabbling' for plant matter under the water, or for crustaceans or insect larvae in the water.

tree swallow, first of 2021

Migration brings something new each day!  We saw several Tree Swallows, actively aerial hunting over the pond for any flying insects they could eat.  One checked out the nestbox where a pair raised a clutch of eggs successfully last year.  They moved on, but the box is ready in nesting season for Bluebirds or Tree Swallows making their way here.

dove on rock

The Mourning Doves Zenaida macroura spent winter near the pond in nearby bushes and tree cover. This one is celebrating Spring by investigating the water and rocks in the pond. 

Its bright pink-orange feet made it through another cold season by the 'wonderful net' of arteries. This adaptation interweaves blood vessels from and to the heart so birds don’t lose much heat through their feet. Read more at

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-dont-birds-get-cold-feet/

https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/why-birds-feet-dont-freeze

golden alexanders

Many native plants are coming up through their winter blankets of grasses and mulch.  The Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea will be displaying their golden yellow flowers in just a few weeks.

hooded mergansers

Hooded Mergansers Lophodytes cucullatus are the smallest of the three native Mergansers. They migrate in early Spring along the Mississippi River and arrive on breeding grounds as soon as the ice is melted.  On this pond, they rest and find nourishment in aquatic insects, crustaceans, amphibians, and vegetation.  Pairs form in winter and they will find a tree cavity or wood duck box to built their nest.

tamarack rosettes

There are several trees in the riparian area around the pond.  One is the Tamarack Larix laricina or American Larch.  It is just starting to flower, before sprouting its fresh bright green soft needles. Tamarack is a native deciduous conifer; it is in the pine family but sheds needles (leaves) in Autumn.

lovey doves

Mourning Doves being lovey-dovey.  A small flock has been here all winter, coming to the feeders for nourishment. These two hang together now since it is mating season. One was feeding the other a morsel, a sure sign of courtship.  The male of this species is slightly larger than the female, and he has a pink chest.  

hooded mergansers

Late on this balmy Spring day, a pair of Hooded Mergansers landed on the pond. They might be migrating, needing a place to stop and rest. We watched them paddle around a bit near the far shoreline. As the sunlight dimmed, the turtles who spent the afternoon warming themselves on the rocks started swimming back into the pond. Neither species seemed to be bothered by the other. This turtle sat comfortably with the ducks for a long time, each enjoying the end of winter.

turtles in Spring

Springtime, sunny, and balmy.  Turtles all came out of the pond today to warm up on the rocks. To get maximum exposure to the sun's warmth, they extend their legs, neck, and tail.

junco in spring

Suddenly, this morning, a flock of migrating Dark-eyed Juncos appeared in the buffer at the edge of the pond.  These sparrows, Junco hyemalis, nest north of here across Canada and Alaska.  As they hunt among the grasses, each flicks its tails so we can see the white feathers flashing.  Dressed in rather dull gray, the bright white tail feathers seem to be their only adornments for courting a mate. According to allaboutbirds.org, females seem to prefer males that show more white.

cold goose feet

Spring weather sometimes allows the pond to be liquid in the day, but after a cold night there might be some thin ice.  A Canada Goose carefully navigates the slippery ice, then gets a surprise.

mallards' finest feathers

 

Mallards arrived this week on the pond.  Last year, after nesting and before migrating, mallard ducks molted: each lost and replaced all of their feathers with new drab plumage. This is considered their 'basic plumage.'  In the early spring, just before breeding season, they shed some feathers and put on their handsome 'alternate plumage' to look more attractive and help attract a mate.

These two stood on the rocks to preen their feathers, close to water but not in it.  The male showed off his iridescent green head, bright yellow bill, and orange-red feet. The female revealed the white-bordered bright blue patch in her wing feathers.

geese in early Spring

 

open water

Open water around the edge of the pond.  Now we watch for the ducks and geese to arrive with Spring.

snow covered rocks

Two big rocks are still visible this winter under the snow. This spot, at the edge of the pond with grasses behind, is where we usually see turtles sunning, frogs croaking, or birds hunting in warmer seasons.

winter gardening

Some of the wildflowers need special treatment before they can reproduce.  This is not the desired form of 'special treatment' for people, but some seeds germinate only if they first endure a few months outside in the cold. I sowed several seeds in these small containers, hoping they germinate in early Spring. One benefit is that I know where they are, rather than hiding among the many other wildflower seedlings.  When they sprout I can nurture them until it is time to move them to a permanent spot.

Read more about the process at https://northerngardener.org/winter-sowing-perennials-works/