mallards showing off

After a month of no ducks on the pond at all, there have been many Mallards feeding and napping here. They are gathering to prepare for their fall migration. Mallards can indeed survive cold weather, but when they can no longer feed on live aquatic plants, insects in the water, or grain in snow-covered fields, it is time to fly south.

Each day in Autumn they search for food around the edge of the pond, nap in the warm sun, or practice their courtship moves. Mallards engage in seasonal monogamy, in which new pair bonds are formed each season. Usually they form these bonds on their wintering grounds.  And with new handsome feathers after molting season, why not show off?

Some of the courtship displays by Mallards are rhythmic head-pumping, signaling interest. Males will show off by pulling both wings and tail up to show off purple-blue wing feathers. Or, the male will raise out of the water, pull his head up, and give a whistle (as above).

storm over pond and river

 

black birds roosting

Flocks of blackbirds gathered to roost for the night in the big cottonwood tree far across the pond.  

Now that birds are finished defending their nesting territories and raising young birds, they begin congregating in really large flocks to feed and protect one another from predators like owls and hawks. The birds gathering may be a mix of Red-winged Blackbirds and Starlings, Cowbirds, and Grackles.

 

sparrow feeding on reed seeds

 

pond lily

How nice to have a pond lily! We anticipated seeing it bloom next season. The little plant was happy in this pond, spreading out its leaves to soak up the sun and give the tuber in the mud oxygen through the underwater stems.  

Then, ducks landed on the pond . . .  and ate the leaves and stems.  We'll see next Spring if they ate the roots too.

mushroom

Shaggy Mane, the white mushrooms that seem to appear overnight when we have cool damp weather.  Also called "Lawyers Wig", both names invoke the hairy scales its botanical name defines Coprinus comatus (coma is 'hair').

log

 Every pond needs a log for turtles to sit on while sunning themselves.

It will probably be used by birds hunting aquatic prey, damselflies drying their wings, and frogs.

boneset, golden in autumn

One native wildflower here displays tufts of seeds that look golden, although the plants are still vital with green leaves.  The seeds have fluffy hairs to carry them on the wind.
 

vervain, golden in autumn

 

Blue Verain Verbena hastata gave a blue-purple pop of color to the pond area in summer. 

Now, the seeds stand glowing against the green reeds. 

golden alexanders, golden in autumn

 

Among the yellow, purple, and white flowers in the riparian area surrounding the pond, the Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea have long gone to seed.  

They bloomed a sunny yellow in May and June. Now, the seeds still stand in umbels on strong stems.  The entire plant material remaining turns a golden purple-tinged color -- lovely among the autumn asters.

purple asters

 

New England Asters

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

bloom along with the white and lavender 

colored asters around the pond. 

 They add to the display of riotous color

 in late summer.

seed harvest

 

Birds are already pecking out the sunflower seeds (top) and goldenrod flowers are releasing each seed with pappus, a tuft of hair that helps it disperse in breezes (bottom).

bee on asters

 

The asters are abuzz with pollinators.  While standing among the wildflowers, I hear the buzzing as loud and pleasant.  There are many Panicled Aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum plants in the riparian area around the pond.  The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract many kinds of insects, including honeybees, bumblebees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, and beetles.  I have not seen any Wild Turkey here, but they feed on the seeds and foliage of aster plants.  Maybe some day . . . 

monarch on reed

 

mallard twins and lone goose

In June, a Mallard mama brought her 6 newly-hatched ducklings to the water (see 6/27/2021).  A few weeks went by, and only 2 ducklings remained with the adult. We watched as they became more independent each day, no longer swimming so close to her.  Eventually, the mama would leave them to feed alone since they knew to hide among the grasses. She would hide herself from predators because she was molting. So we only saw her every few days with them. We called the two ducklings the 'twins'.

(pix above: twins in July with Mallard mama)

One day in August, a Canada Goose appeared on the pond. It glided on the water, showing off its newly molted feathers. But it stayed here day after day, feeding with and hanging close to the twins. All of them seemed to be comfortable with each others' company. All seemed healthy and happy on the quiet pond with plenty to eat, overhanging grasses and reeds to hide in, and rocks to sit on for sunny naps. They dabbled for food in the water together. Even the mama mallard seemed okay with the goose.

We puzzled why the goose was here. According to research, Canada Geese mate for life. If one loses a mate, it may stay alone. A lone female may help other families herd and raise their young.  I like to think this was a female goose who lost her mate; maybe she wanted to help the mallard ducklings since their mama was vulnerable to predators while growing new feathers. She stayed until the twins grew their wing feathers and muscles strong enough to fly out from the pond.  She disappeared from pond a day after the mallards departed, at the end of August.

(pix below: twins in August with lone goose)

blooming water plantain

This summer, scant rain fell in July and August. The pond suffered lower water levels as each day passed.  

Eventually, some aquatic plants that grow at the edge of the pond stood in mud rather than in shallow water. 

But the Northern Water Plantain Alisma triviale thrived despite the drought.  It sent up stems more than 2 feet high on which many whorls of white flowers opened, each about 1/4" across.

strong stem

The strong stiff stems of Ironweed are known for proudly holding flowers, pollen, and nectar above the other native plants. Butterflies, bees, and other insects find Vernonia fasciculate, ‘Prairie' or ‘Common' Ironweed plants, a source of nourishment.  This plant also helps filter water that percolates back into the soil. That means less toxins in water that recharges the groundwater aquifers.

Ironweed is one of a few host plants for American Painted Lady butterfly. ‘Host plants’ are those that the butterfly lives on, lays eggs on, and their larvae are sustained by.

See also the post on 8-21-2020 

blue lobelia

Blue Lobelia, a native perennial, started blooming several weeks ago in the wetland around the pond.  Each spike of flowers opens from the bottom up.  This plant Lobelia siphilitica is related to the intense red Cardinal Flower Lobelia siphilitica.  In fact, sometimes Blue Lobelia is called  Blue Cardinal Flower.  It should bloom until frost, now that we received some rain after a dry summer. 

arrowhead blooming

 

Among the plants along the shore of the pond, Arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia plants hold their leaves pointing skyward above the water.

This week, we noticed they are blooming with white, 3-petaled flowers held up above the leaves on strong branched stems. 

Each flower is about 1" across.

This variety is specifically Broadleaved Arrowhead; also called 'Duck Potato' since it is a perennial plant that forms food-storing tubers as roots. 

sneezeweed - yellow blooms

 

small turtle, big turtle

The turtles are practicing balancing rocks today.

Or, the big one coaxed the small one to help it hold a pose. 

hummingbird 2021

 

The twig hanging over the water is a favorite perch for birds.  

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird sits on the twig to rest on her way to the Lonicera blooming nearby.

bugs by the pond

If you would walk around this pond today, you might see many insects on the flowers.  

Along with searching for a meal, they also carry pollen from plant to plant. Pollen allows the plants to set seeds and reproduce more plants of the same kind.

Here, a Leatherwing on Boneset flowers. This insect also eats eggs and larvae of other insects.

Below, a Ladybug sits on milkweed flowers.  Ladybugs eat aphids, scale insects, and other plant pests.

 

blue vervain

Blue Vervain Verbena hastata blooms among the green grasses and rushes around the pond.  

It likes wet feet, so grows close to the water.  

The flowers open slowly over several weeks from the bottom up on a cluster of stems.
 

monarch butterfly

Last year, a few milkweed plants were growing happily in the marsh.  This year, more plants of Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata are evident all around the pond. Yay for Monarch butterflies!