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!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Thusday, 3/16/11
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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, March 16, 2011
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!
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, March 15, 2011
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 commutertraffic 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, sotraffic 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.
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
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
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.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday Evening 3/14/11
Got home this evening to find a dozen mallards on the pond! We wondered where they had been, as we hadn't seen any since we got home from our trip on Friday. Also, a lone muskrat eating some vegetation on the edge of the ice. No sign of the geese that were here this morning.
A red winged blackbird was singing in a tree across the road when I stopped to pick up the mail. First of the season for us.
A red winged blackbird was singing in a tree across the road when I stopped to pick up the mail. First of the season for us.
March 14, 2011 (Monday)
The mink is back! This is the first time we've seen it since last summer. It ran up the brook, and disappeared--probably hid under the bridge. Awhile later, we saw it run down and dive under the ice. Maybe the muskrats have had their first litter of the year?
Yesterday it was cloudy and cold, and muskrat activity was down. They are supposedly crepuscular, but we see them most active in broad daylight when it is fine out, like today when it is sunny.
On Saturday afternoon they were doing something really cute. One was sitting on the ice at the edge of the open water, grooming itself. Another one was piled on top of it, crosswise, trying to sleep, but it kept slipping off due to the movement of the one on the bottom. It would then reposition itself and try to nap again. After awhile, it gave up, gave a big yawn, and tucked itself into a sleeping position with its tail curled around it. It was sleeping next to something that looked like a piece of fabric. The following day I saw it sleeping in that same spot. After awhile, it woke up, took a dip, and then climbed out and dunked the fabric in the water, then began eating it. So maybe it wasn't a piece of fabric. Could it have been a big mat of old algae?
This year's muskrats seem to be more distinctively marked than last year's--or maybe I am just observing more closely. There seem to be at least three of them, two with lighter markings around the face. I wonder whether the biggest one is male or female. Or maybe size goes by age and not gender.
We had a red squirrel yesterday--the first since we trapped one last fall that had gotten into the crawl space above the garage--apparently a fine place to store nuts...They are so fast! And fox squirrels chasing each other.
Another first of the year sighting yesterday was a house finch at the feeder.
We haven't had any ducks on the pond since we returned, but this morning a pair of big Canada geese flew in and stayed awhile.
Downies, a red bellied woodpecker, white breasted nuthatches and chickadees are all active at the suet, and goldfinches at the seeds. Cardinals and bluejays flying around.
Green tops of daffodils and crocuses are peeking through the cold ground, but no sign of snowdrops yet. The skunk cabbage doesn't look any bigger than it did in January--maybe 3" tall.
Our screech owl box is tipped at a funny angle. Someone must have investigated it while we were away. But there is no sign of occupancy.
Yesterday it was cloudy and cold, and muskrat activity was down. They are supposedly crepuscular, but we see them most active in broad daylight when it is fine out, like today when it is sunny.
On Saturday afternoon they were doing something really cute. One was sitting on the ice at the edge of the open water, grooming itself. Another one was piled on top of it, crosswise, trying to sleep, but it kept slipping off due to the movement of the one on the bottom. It would then reposition itself and try to nap again. After awhile, it gave up, gave a big yawn, and tucked itself into a sleeping position with its tail curled around it. It was sleeping next to something that looked like a piece of fabric. The following day I saw it sleeping in that same spot. After awhile, it woke up, took a dip, and then climbed out and dunked the fabric in the water, then began eating it. So maybe it wasn't a piece of fabric. Could it have been a big mat of old algae?
This year's muskrats seem to be more distinctively marked than last year's--or maybe I am just observing more closely. There seem to be at least three of them, two with lighter markings around the face. I wonder whether the biggest one is male or female. Or maybe size goes by age and not gender.
We had a red squirrel yesterday--the first since we trapped one last fall that had gotten into the crawl space above the garage--apparently a fine place to store nuts...They are so fast! And fox squirrels chasing each other.
Another first of the year sighting yesterday was a house finch at the feeder.
We haven't had any ducks on the pond since we returned, but this morning a pair of big Canada geese flew in and stayed awhile.
Downies, a red bellied woodpecker, white breasted nuthatches and chickadees are all active at the suet, and goldfinches at the seeds. Cardinals and bluejays flying around.
Green tops of daffodils and crocuses are peeking through the cold ground, but no sign of snowdrops yet. The skunk cabbage doesn't look any bigger than it did in January--maybe 3" tall.
Our screech owl box is tipped at a funny angle. Someone must have investigated it while we were away. But there is no sign of occupancy.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
March 12, 2011
I've been wanting to keep a log of nature observations ever since we moved to this house 13 months ago. So now I will begin.
We got back from our trip to Costa Rica after it was dark last night, so I couldn't see how spring was progressing..I was hoping the pond would be melted and the snow would be gone. Alas, I awoke this morning to find large patches of snow still evident, and the pond still frozen. But it is mushy, and the three areas kept open by the aerators are much larger than they have been during any time since the big New Year's thaw. So we are struggling toward spring.
It is a sunny day. The muskrats are out and active, sitting on the ice at the edge of the open water and feeding. I've seen them eating both vegetation and fish this morning, and they are noticeably fatter than they were in the fall. Sometimes two of them sit together, touching each other like an affectionate couple.
Our seed feeders need filling. A goldfinch showed up at the thistle, tried it out, looked around, and left. There is still suet in the suet feeder, and we have had a white breasted nuthatch and a downy woodpecker busy at it. I saw a male cardinal fly across the pond.
Went out to post a letter and saw some turkeys through the trees across the street. They are over there all the time, but rarely cross the road. I think we've only seen them over here one time in a year. Why doesn't the turkey cross the road?...
I need to go out and walk around to see what plants are coming up.
We got back from our trip to Costa Rica after it was dark last night, so I couldn't see how spring was progressing..I was hoping the pond would be melted and the snow would be gone. Alas, I awoke this morning to find large patches of snow still evident, and the pond still frozen. But it is mushy, and the three areas kept open by the aerators are much larger than they have been during any time since the big New Year's thaw. So we are struggling toward spring.
It is a sunny day. The muskrats are out and active, sitting on the ice at the edge of the open water and feeding. I've seen them eating both vegetation and fish this morning, and they are noticeably fatter than they were in the fall. Sometimes two of them sit together, touching each other like an affectionate couple.
Our seed feeders need filling. A goldfinch showed up at the thistle, tried it out, looked around, and left. There is still suet in the suet feeder, and we have had a white breasted nuthatch and a downy woodpecker busy at it. I saw a male cardinal fly across the pond.
Went out to post a letter and saw some turkeys through the trees across the street. They are over there all the time, but rarely cross the road. I think we've only seen them over here one time in a year. Why doesn't the turkey cross the road?...
I need to go out and walk around to see what plants are coming up.
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