Jack Pine Trail, Mud Lake, and spring arrival #5
March 19th, 2010
First off, mallard calisthenics.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Today I drove myself and my mother-in-law to Jack Pine Trail. This trail is part of the Stony Swamp area and is rather famous with birders. This is only the second time I've been there, and the first time I've driven there--now that I've learned the way I look forward to more such trips in the future. We had a great time, although we didn't see any birds of interest, new migrants or otherwise--just common year-rounders (including a Red-Breasted Nuthatch), plus redwings and Canada Geese. Then we drove a very short distance down the road to Beaver Trail and hiked that too.
Mud Lake yesterday, on my own, also produced no birds of interest. It seems that despite our early spring (there are not only buds now, but some of the buds are opening!), most species of migrants are following their own set timetable. This bodes well for my trip to Point Pelee. I was starting to worry that everything will have passed through already by the time I get there!
I did see several pairs of Canada Geese at ML who seemed to be disputing over who's going to get to nest where. They were out standing and walking on the half-frozen, slushy pond, honking furiously at each other. Any time geese would fly over honking, the ones on the pond would answer vociferously, as if to say, "not here, pal! This spot's taken!"
It occurred to me that, in at least one case, the winner might end up the loser. According to a fellow I ran into last year, there's a goose nest at Mud Lake that loses its eggs every year. Snapping turtles, he figures. It's just not high enough above the water. Of course, several pairs of geese do breed successfully in that area, as evidenced by the large creche of adorable goslings that forms every summer.
Finally, this evening, a brief walk along the Rideau produced spring arrival number five, right on schedule: Song Sparrow! One was foraging on the ground near a feeder.
March 19th, 2010
First off, mallard calisthenics.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Today I drove myself and my mother-in-law to Jack Pine Trail. This trail is part of the Stony Swamp area and is rather famous with birders. This is only the second time I've been there, and the first time I've driven there--now that I've learned the way I look forward to more such trips in the future. We had a great time, although we didn't see any birds of interest, new migrants or otherwise--just common year-rounders (including a Red-Breasted Nuthatch), plus redwings and Canada Geese. Then we drove a very short distance down the road to Beaver Trail and hiked that too.
Mud Lake yesterday, on my own, also produced no birds of interest. It seems that despite our early spring (there are not only buds now, but some of the buds are opening!), most species of migrants are following their own set timetable. This bodes well for my trip to Point Pelee. I was starting to worry that everything will have passed through already by the time I get there!
I did see several pairs of Canada Geese at ML who seemed to be disputing over who's going to get to nest where. They were out standing and walking on the half-frozen, slushy pond, honking furiously at each other. Any time geese would fly over honking, the ones on the pond would answer vociferously, as if to say, "not here, pal! This spot's taken!"
It occurred to me that, in at least one case, the winner might end up the loser. According to a fellow I ran into last year, there's a goose nest at Mud Lake that loses its eggs every year. Snapping turtles, he figures. It's just not high enough above the water. Of course, several pairs of geese do breed successfully in that area, as evidenced by the large creche of adorable goslings that forms every summer.
Finally, this evening, a brief walk along the Rideau produced spring arrival number five, right on schedule: Song Sparrow! One was foraging on the ground near a feeder.
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