Last week’s snow has melted and the daytime temperatures have remained in the expected range of about 7C with a mix of sun and cloud and rain.
On March 25th, we went to the ponds at the Strathroy Wastewater Treatment Facility to see some migrating waterfowl.
The mix and number of birds changes from day to day. We saw only a few of the waterfowl species that have been reported there recently: Bufflehead, Redhead, Green-winged Teal, Horned Grebe, and Ring-necked Duck. We heard American Crows and Song Sparrows and saw one Turkey Vulture high overhead.
The birds are always wary and move away when approached resulting in marginal photos, I’m afraid. Always, there are a few Canada Geese and Mallards. Some geese are already on nests.
The most abundant species by far was Ring-necked Ducks. Although they will breed farther north, some seemed to be already paired off.
On March 28th, we spent time at Kilally Meadows Environmentally Significant Area. The river was running high and fast after recent rain. We followed a sheltered path away from the river to avoid the steady wind. Hints of green were starting to show.
A short walk in early spring yielded few bird species, mostly residents or early migrants: Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Turkey Vulture and Song Sparrow. This lovely Song Sparrow was in fine voice.
Other sightings were Turkey-tail fungus and Goldenrod gall. Galls on the stems of goldenrod are created when a Goldenrod Gall Fly deposits eggs into a goldenrod stem in the spring. When an egg hatches, the larva feeds inside the stem, going through several stages including one that overwinters in the gall and will emerge as a fly in the spring. The adult flies mate in the spring and the cycle continues. According to Wisconsin Horticulture, different races of the flies feed only on one species of goldenrod. Female flies choose the correct plant by “tasting” it with chemical sensors on their feet and antennae as they walk over the buds. (Isn’t nature wonderful?!)
The larvae inside galls are sometime predated by parasitoid wasps (that deposit their eggs in the larvae) or by woodpeckers that drill through the hardened gall to find the larva. Given the size of the hole in this gall, it was likely made by a woodpecker.
Osprey News!
On March 25th, we spotted a lone Osprey that perched first on the low platform and then on one of the newly-installed set of stadium lights where the nest had been located for several years. Often, a male Osprey will arrive at a nesting site first until it is joined by its mate.
We did not see the bird for the next two days and feared it might have been discouraged by the strange new “trees” and absent nest.
Early in the morning of March 28, however, Susan saw an Osprey fly across the ballpark and land beside a second bird that was perched on another set of lights. There they stayed together for a while before one took off in the direction of the river, presumably to find a fish to offer to its mate. After an hour had passed and no fish arrived, the second bird took off.
Our most recent sighting was today when a female bird was perched on one set of lights. We are watching to see if there will be an attempt to build a nest on the new lights or, perhaps on the low platform, or if the pair will abandon the ballpark…
Orchid news
Our third orchid is now in bloom. Yay!
Fascinating Bird Behaviours
Photos from Audubon. Click on the photo to access more photos and commentary:
Songs with Moon in the Title
Leon Redbone’s style may not please all, but we love him.
This is such an old song that there are no high quality videos with Les Paul and Mary Ford.
Elvis Presley rocked up a famous bluegrass song – and the rest is music history.
Two versions, just because they are so different. The first is with Cybill Shepherd and cheeky Bruce Willis. The second version includes the line “Do do do, wa wa wa wa”!
I will prepare a tribute to Fossils and Foxes. Their story is interesting.
My mother’s family owned a music store in Montreal and my mother loved Glenn Miller’s music. I wonder if I was named after him.
We borrowed and rented a few Audrey Hepburn movies. “My Fair Lady” is still to come.
Here is CCR at their peak. John Fogerty is still singing CCR songs after 50 years.
Let’s finish with a mellow song about love.