Muskrat Returns!

I am delighted to report that we at last have muskrat activity on Muskrat Pond. Last March, after the mink tore up the muskrat house, we saw no more muskrats all spring or summer. So sad! Then finally, the first weekend in November, we spied a muskrat! We've seen him (her?) off and on since, but have been unsure as to whether this was just a visitor or a new resident. Today, a cloudy day, the muskrat was around all day, eating what I hope is the roots of reed canary grass, and pulling it out, as well, swimming across the pond with it, and diving under. So we are guessing a new muskrat nest is being built in the bank on the other side of the pond.


The mallards seemed wary, at first, but when the muskrat didn't react to their presence, they appeared to accept it and were all feeding together in the same area.

Raccoon and Green Heron

It has been a cold, wet spring. Last night there were frost warnings, but today it finally seemed like spring, sunny and warmer. We have had a raccoon come to the sunflower seed feeder outside our window every evening this week at dinnertime when it is not even close to being dark. How bold!

Now we must remember to take the feeder in every night, for sure.

The geese were here with their 6 goslings again this morning. My how fast they are growing! Ate a lot of little spring grrens. I hope most of them were undesirable weeds...
In the afternoon the green backed heron was here again. We saw him yesterday, too, although not for the first time. The first sighting of the year for a green heron at the pond was in mid April. As I was watching him, I noticed a lot of movement under the water in the shallows in the area of the old muskrat house. Looking through the scope, I was expecting to find the muskrats were back, rebuilding. Instead, what I saw were lots of frogs, mating! That was pretty amazing. They have been singing mightily night and day all week, except when it gets really cold at night. So I guess this is what they have been working up to.

Goslings!

Looked out the window this morning and saw two adult Canada geese with six fluffy yellow goslings!

As I was watching them a great blue heron flew in:

A bluebird was hunting from a tree in the front yard at the same time. Fun morning of birding from the house!

Solitary Sandpiper

There's a solitary sandpiper on a partially-submerged log in our pond right now. Been here for over an hour, and seems to be finding something to eat--working the log just like a beach. Last year we had one stop over on our little beach in spring migration, but this year, there is no beach, due to the the unusually high water. A red-winged blackbird chased the sandpiper all around the pond--a comical sight--but it ended up back in the same spot on the log. It seems to be very content there. Having eaten, it is preening. It looks so beautiful in spring plumage. Soon it will be gone to the far north, where it breeds.

Had a pair of first-of-the-year chipping sparrows on Monday working through the grass in the yard. The same day and the next, a male bluebird was hunting from the branch of a black walnut bird was hunting from the branch of a black walnut, dropping down on bugs in the grass, then flying back up to the tree. Since the trees aren't leafed-out yet, it was easy to see. Beautiful!

Lots of spring flowers coming up. Wild iris:

 Mertensia (Virginia bluebells):

 Above, May apples look like elf umbrellas.

From Snow to Spring Beauties

A week ago today we awoke to snow on the ground. Agggh! Horrible. It was mostly melted by the end of the day, but we were not happy. A first of the year great blue heron flew into the pond on Monday, but stayed only briefly. Our neighbors across the pond have been clearing a lot of brush, so this may have scared him away--not permanently, I hope.

Throughout the week the weather gradually warmed up, even though it rained every day until Saturday. Tuesday night we had a big thunderstorm with hail and heavy winds, but each night the temperatures dropped a little less, so by the end of the week we were in the 40s at night, and over 50 in the day--a big improvement.
We have seen the goldfinches gradually getting more yellow.

Rhubarb and daffodils are emerging:

And on sunny days, like Saturday, bloodroot opens up to show its sunny spring face.

On Saturday it was fun to walk around and what was coming up: May Apples!

Bleeding heart:

Solomon's seal:

Trillium!

And lungwort is already in bloom!

Finally, while walking around to look at the state of our fruit trees (they look like they survived the winter well), we saw spring beauties in bloom:

 I guess that means spring has finally arrived.

First Bloodroot and Other Flowers

The first bloodroot is up. Yay!

Frogs!

The last couple of weeks were cold and there was little activity on Muskrat Pond. It appears the mink really did destroy the muskrat house, and we hardly saw any muskrats. I was very happy to see one Friday morning, swimming out of the culvert and into the "old" muskrat house--the one used last year.

There have been geese and mallards and deer--and roadkill. Three deer in about 3 weeks, a raccoon, 2 possums and a skunk on Friday night.

But Friday night something wonderful happened. We got home from dinner with friends and the frogs were singing! What a thrill. A true sign of spring. And then yesterday it got really hot--like a summer day--and I went out to clean winter debris out of the brook, and there were the frogs, sitting on rocks, warming themselves in the sun. It amazes me how they can winter over at full size like that. So now, even though it won't be hot like it was yesterday, spring is really underway.

Bird sightings on the pond over the weekend included a female Eastern belted kingfisher and a chipping sparrow. A great blue heron was sighted in flight. Hooray! The house finches have been back for a couple of weeks, as are  the cedar waxwings who passed through in a big flock of 40-50 a couple of weekends ago. Goldfinches are getting golder every day.

Mink and Geese

Woke to a beautiful sunny day, but cold outside. The thermometer read 19 F. The ice had all melted off the pond by the end of the weekend, but today there is a thin film of new ice in the shallows. A bit of snow on the ground, too, and a thin coating of ice on the deck railings. Further north they had a really bad winter storm yesterday, so we are lucky. This should melt off by afternoon if it stays sunny.

We have been wondering what happened to the muskrat house. We can't figure out if something tore it up (mink?) or if it just looks so much smaller because the pond level is a lot higher from snow melt followed by rain. Haven't seen the pond this high since last spring.

Was looking out at a quiet pond when a mink emerged on land, and then ran quickly under the little wooden bridge over the brook. A little later I was watching a pair of geese, when another pair flew in, honking loudly. The fist pair took off immediately. They know who is dominant!

Sunday Evening

I was so excited about the mink that I forgot to note that we saw a beautiful bluebird yesterday in good light in the yard--red breast, and all. We were very happy about that. Tree sparrows and juncos are still here, but I expect they'll head north soon. Goldfinches are turning yellow. Having a good rain this evening. So happy it's not snow!

Sunday, 3/20/11

It's officially the first day of spring, and a lot is happening outside. The full moon was beautiful last night, looking mysterious through misty clouds.

This morning we saw the first robin on the property, doing just what robins do--hopping about, looking for worms. And two muskrats were very busy in the shallows, eating all the fresh greens they could find.

A couple of hours later, we saw the mink! This is the longest mink sighting we've had. It was running along the beach, then running on what is left of the ice on the pond, then swimming, then out again, all the while sniffing, sniffing, looking for (I presume) baby muskrats. It sniffed all around last year's and this year's muskrat houses and the shallows where they like to feed.

This  mink has been in a fight. It has a wound or scar on the left side of the neck below the ear. I saw it run along the top of the tree that fell down last fall, then dive into it. A moment later, it came speeding out, with another mink in chase! Imagine, two of them! I was amazed. They ran either into or behind a big brush pile we created last year. I felt very vindicated; following the advice to leave fallen trees and create brushpiles for wildlife has really paid off.

Later we saw scar-neck out again, running along the bank and sniffing. Then he dove into a hole in the west bank of the pond, and I didn't see him emerge. So maybe the mink have a home here, too. We are thrilled!

First crocuses of the season! They are blooming even before the snowdrops.

Thusday, 3/16/11

The pair of geese arrived today at 7:15 a.m. Yesterday they hung around most of the day, checking out the amenities. I think they're going to make an offer on the place.

The snow is mostly melted, except in places where it was piled up from plowing, but the ice is still not all melted from the pond.

Photos of muskrats were taken by holding a small digital camera up to the scope. Not great pictures, but better than nothing. Putting your eye up to the scope gives a much better and bigger view.

They won't be so happy about this location once the plants start growing and they discover we don't mow all the way to the edge of the pond.

Wednesday, 3/16/11

I have seen the first flower! Yesterday I went out to fill the feeder near the pond, and despite the cold wind and gray skies, took a little walk around to see what was coming up--and I saw it--a tiny yellow winter aconite. Hooray!

Today I went out and found a little purple crocus bud--not open yet, but definitely up. So the spring flowers are finally beginning. Of course, the garlic mustard is greening up, too...

Other sights yesterday:
The pair of geese hung around all day, checking out the property to see if they want to make a home here. Today they didn't arrive till 10:00 a.m. and they got scared off when I went out to fill the feeder again.

A small gray bird checking out the screech owl box. I think  it was a white breasted nuthatch, but I didn't get a good look. I'll have to put that other nesting box up soon.

A crow sitting in a dead tree eating what looked like old roadkill. What would we do without the crows and vultures to clean up after all the things that die. Thank you!

And muskrats, muskrats, muskrats, eating fish, grooming, scratching, sleeping. What a show they put on!

Tuesday Morning, 3/15/2011

Beware the Ides of March! Actually, I think it will be a beautiful day. We had a lovely red sunset last night with lots of purple and coral afterglow.

This morning the mated pair of geese (that were here yesterday?) arrived with a great deal of fanfare--much honking--at 7:30, along with a third goose and a male mallard. An odd group.

Two muskrats got busy grooming and scratching themselves and catching and eating small fish--probably bluegills. I keep the spotting scope set up all the time with a focus toward the pond so I can see more detail whenever I choose.

About 7:40 I spotted the movement of deer on the ridge to the west of the pond, and grabbed the binoculars to count them. They are so hard to see, even with no leaves out yet, because the snow is rapidly melting off and their color blends in perfectly with the brown earth. They move too much for the scope to be very useful.

I was concerned that the lead deer, a larger female, appeared to be interested in crossing the road. Our road fits the definition of the type of road that has the most deer-car accidents--a two lane road with a speed limit of 50 mph. It is busy at this time of day, with commuter traffic heading for the interstate exit just 3 miles away. She went toward the road, ran back toward the group, and they milled around a bit. Then she took off again, this time with more confidence, and they all followed. I was able to see that there were 7--2 larger females and 5 young ones. It looked like they were heading into the woods to the west, but then they veered toward the road and all crossed it at a run. I was worried about the last ones making it across, but luckily the big oncoming pickup was able to stop in time.

Watching the deer this winter has given me a better understanding of why there are so many deer-vehicle accidents. When they want to cross the road, they don't stand near the edge of it, so traffic can see them and slow down like humans would. They wait further back where drivers can't see them, watching the traffic, and then make a dash for it. They clearly see the traffic as a hazard, but they are unable to judge the speed of oncoming vehicles accurately, and they do not take into account that ridge to the west where traffic suddenly appears over it. Lots of times they abort the mission when traffic seems too close as they get to the edge of the road, but there have been three deer-vehicle accidents in the year we have lived here--one that happened when we were home.

I called the road commission this winter to ask them to put up a deer crossing sign. They told me they don't do it any more, because their research has showed that people don't slow down when they see the signs. This is easy to believe.