new year 2022 Juncos

Dark-eyed Juncos made their sudden winter appearance several weeks ago.  In Springtime, they find mates and nest "up north" in Canada.  In Autumn they migrate to places across the US where they spend the colder months. Junco hyemalis are flashy little sparrows. I think they look as if they're wearing tuxedoes, with crisp markings -- a white chest and belly, dark gray or black back, and pink bill.  They have bright white tail feathers which they reveal as they flit around on the ground searching for seeds. Juncos flock together in winter, sometimes with others species. When they find a stash of seeds (like this dish on the deck overlooking the pond) they grudgingly takes turns at it.

stars on ice

Another interesting feature of winter on the pond is the 'ice star'  or 'lake star'.  In my search for information about these patterns, I found many theories -- all related to the physics of temperature, moisture, pressure, and ice formation.  One of these theories is that patterns are formed in early winter when a hole allows water to swell up from beneath and spread over the surface, leaving dark fingers of melted ice radiating from the hole.

ice holes on pond

Cold, grey, blustery weather on the pond.

The water is covered by a thick layer of ice and snow drifts. Where the ice is visible between the drifts, a few holes break the smooth solid sheet. These seem to form where plant matter floating close to the surface or a submerged rock interrupted the process of liquid freezing to solid.

log in snow drift

We call the log near the shore of the pond  'turtle log'.  

Now it is buried in a snow drift.  It is curved, and usually emerges above the water or ice at least 18 inches.

Twenty inches of snow fell on the pond in this one early-winter storm. 

mud nest on maple twig

Walking in the winter always brings surprises!  Without leaves on the trees, secret nests are revealed.

This tiny mud nest (smaller than a dime) was perched on a low branch of a maple tree near the pond. It seems to be a Potter Wasp nest left over from earlier in the season.  The Potter Wasp Eumeninae builds a nest of mud on a stem or twig, then hunts larvae of other insects to stock the pot. She lays a single egg in the pot and seals it.  The egg hatches, feeds on what mom left in the pot, and grows through larval and pupal stages. The opening you see is the exit hole made by the young wasp emerging from the nest.

song sparrow feederwatch

 

Song Sparrows Melospiza melodia live year around in the area around this pond, hiding their nests in grasses, weeds, or small trees. 

Song Sparrows flit through dense, vegetation or low branches, staying low and forage secretively.  They eat insects in the summer; in winter they switch to seeds and fruit they glean from standing plants.  

They will also visit bird feeders.  I notice them especially on 'count days' for FeederWatch.

feederwatch 2021-2022

We do citizen science for Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  'FeederWatch' just started for this winter.  https://feederwatch.org/

The pond is surrounded by grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs that provide food for birds.  And we also put out seed and suet in feeders to bring the birds a little closer.  

log in first snow

Overnight, we had the first snow of this season.  On the pond, the water is high and the log was frosted with a little coat of white 'frosting'.  The reeds are still green, but weakening and leaning sideways with the weight of moisture.  The turtles who sun themselves on the log in summer are hibernating now. (see Surviving Below Freezing, 10/31/2020)  

leaf galls

This fallen leaf has galls all over it, lumps or complicated structures that look like capsules containing something mysterious.  Galls are made by one of 1500 species of gall producers -- mostly insects and mites.  Some galls form on leaves where insects feed on the plant matter, or lay eggs.  Galls may also develop as a response to infections by fungi, bacteria, or viruses.  Dissecting the gall is the only sure way to tell what caused it. That's a whole different adventure!

leaf veins

I can't resist looking closely at leaves.  Sometimes, I take the interesting ones with me for later study.  This maple tree next to the pond always has some message or lesson for me.  

Today it displayed nice autumn color.  But later I studied the veins that give the maple leaf it's unique shape.  Not only does venation give each leaf it's biomechanical strength to grow and stay on the tree through all kinds of weather all summer long!  Veins also function as transport vessels. 

The leaf is a main component in the plant's hydraulic system to move water and nutrients from the ground throughout the tree. 

The larger veins provide immense leaf structure support, and the various smaller veins provide photosynthetic gas exchange and enable the plant's growth.

muskrats chasing ducks

As the Mallards swim around the pond, feeding on plants growing at the edge, the muskrats chase the ducks.  The water mammals don't want to share with the birds. Muskrats' burrow or tunnel system is nearby, with an underwater entrance.

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