belleswell
Tele-Meister
I know we could get another big snowfall or two before old
man winter gives up for the season, but all of the spring
harbingers have been arriving the last couple weeks.
About a week ago the red winged blackbirds showed up in force.
Thousands of them making their northerly migration. Our feeders
are just a pleasant pit stop on their journey. I'm reminded of
Alfred Hitchcock's movie "The Birds" every spring when I see
their numbers.
Then a few days ago, the Grackles returned with the same zest.
Many will spend the season here, but most will continue on their
northward migration.
We've not seen any wood ducks yet but hooded mergansers show up about the
same time and we had a pair yesterday that hung out in the pond most of
the afternoon. They too are just using the pond as a pit stop on their way
north.
Then today we had our returning pair of mallards that mate, lay eggs, and
hope for the best. They have not been too successful here because they lay
their eggs in open ground nests that predators have no problem finding. Raccoons
are very hard on ground nesting ducks. Their eggs are the prize.
I'd bet a dollars worth of donuts that we see our resident wood ducks within a
day or two. Then it's official.
Spring at last.
Red Winged Blackbirds
Grackles
Hooded Mergansers
Mallards
man winter gives up for the season, but all of the spring
harbingers have been arriving the last couple weeks.
About a week ago the red winged blackbirds showed up in force.
Thousands of them making their northerly migration. Our feeders
are just a pleasant pit stop on their journey. I'm reminded of
Alfred Hitchcock's movie "The Birds" every spring when I see
their numbers.
Then a few days ago, the Grackles returned with the same zest.
Many will spend the season here, but most will continue on their
northward migration.
We've not seen any wood ducks yet but hooded mergansers show up about the
same time and we had a pair yesterday that hung out in the pond most of
the afternoon. They too are just using the pond as a pit stop on their way
north.
Then today we had our returning pair of mallards that mate, lay eggs, and
hope for the best. They have not been too successful here because they lay
their eggs in open ground nests that predators have no problem finding. Raccoons
are very hard on ground nesting ducks. Their eggs are the prize.
I'd bet a dollars worth of donuts that we see our resident wood ducks within a
day or two. Then it's official.
Spring at last.
Red Winged Blackbirds
Grackles
Hooded Mergansers
Mallards
Last edited:
