Make way for Ducklings

Posted on May 26, 2015May 26, 2015 by Dusty Roads

Although different birds mate at different times, spring is in fulls wing here in New England. So it seemed strange to me that I had not seen any baby ducks.The swans are still on the nest and the Canada Geese have tons of baby goose-poop machines.

I spotted a baby Osprey but where are the ducklings?

There’s a little pond near my house so I took a drive over there with the camera. I brought along a book and settled in to read and watch the birds. There were lots of Canada Geese, no goslings here, however. There were some gulls and few Mallards but no babies of any kind.

I rolled the window down and started reading my book. The birds wandered across the road from the pond to the lawn on the other side and back again. Several geese stopped to check the car out. Apparently trying to figure out what this thing was in their path.

I’d been there about 20 minutes as the mixed flock crossed back to the lawn again when I saw a Mama Mallard with quite a brood of ducklings. I bet she had a dozen! The babies were swimming and diving like corks while Mama chased away all adults, even the much larger Canada Geese!

Happy now that I can add ducklings to my list of babies, I decided to make one more stop before I headed home.

Goslings

Posted on May 25, 2015May 25, 2015 by Dusty Roads

While the “Majestics” wait for their eggs to hatch, several Canada Goose couples have already seen their eggs give way to fluffy goslings.

The families mingled until no one seemed to know which baby belonged to which parent.

I guess even geese have family cook outs on Memorial Day Weekend.

Shhh! It’s a Secret.

Posted on June 17, 2014June 17, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I found a very interesting place but it’s a well kept secret. I’d heard rumors about this place for two years before I found it. My best lead came from a chance encounter on a whale watch last summer. That person had the name of the area but couldn’t give me directions.

Slowly I narrowed down the location. It’s such a secret place that even the state game warden I asked had never heard of it. But I kept looking .Unlike so many conservation areas that are being exploited and over run by humans, this one is still largely undiscovered. Back in March I think I finally found it.

Back then it was snow covered but now it’s a walk in the woods.

I did meet some folks along the way, mostly dog walkers.

As I followed the trail I spotted several lady slippers. Not too close to each other, they prefer to stand solitary.

As I skirted a muddy section of the trail I could tell the trees ahead were thinning and then there it was. My destination.

A huge beaver pond spread out in front of me. The signs of beaver were very apparent.

The trail followed the shore a bit and I spotted the beaver lodge but no beavers.

Dead trees towered above the still water.

Almost every dead tree was crowned with a huge nest and perched in each nest was a blue heron chick. They are about a week from fledgling so they are almost as big as the parents. By next week the sky will be filled with all these young birds testing their wings.

The sound was amazing. The chicks were making a chirping that sounded almost like peepers. There were so many chirping all at once that it was quite loud. When some of the adult birds began to come back to feed them the drop off in the noise level was very noticeable just like the way it gets quieter in a human household when dinner is served.

The surface of the pond was covered with either duck weed or algae, I really couldn’t tell which from my vantage point. A family of geese weaved their way among the dead tree trunks.

What a great find! I hope this place remains a “well kept secret” for a long time to come.

All is Not Calm

Posted on April 11, 2014April 11, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Ahhh Springtime at the Pond. Not so peaceful really. The mating rituals seem to lead to a lot of grumpy behavior or maybe it’s the cold, rainy spring after the long winter.

Bring on the grumpiness!

The Canada Geese are especially temperamental.

They always seem to be rather grumpy anyway but this time of year the grumpiness goes up dramatically.

They don’t seem to get along whether on land or water.

Is Spring Trying to Arrive?

Posted on March 16, 2014March 16, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Monday, March 10 and I awoke to another snow storm. The snow was melting over the weekend and all but the snow piles were gone. Dirt and ground was snow free.

I sighed and went about my morning routine resigned to taking more pictures of snow but then it stopped and a weak sun tried to peak out. A little later I looked out and that new snow was gone! All melted away even if clouds had won out over the sun.

Determined to find something other than snow for my project 365 challenge I grabbed the camera and set off.

Everyone says how pretty spring is but not this early. It’s pretty depressing. the snow banks that are left are dirty. Trash lines the sides of the roads where it’s dropped out of the melting snow.

Trees aren’t green yet and with no sun everything is dull.

Eventually I found myself at the herring run at Oliver Mills in Middleboro. A gaggle of Canada Geese were browsing the hill above the river. Two pairs of ducks were swimming below the fish ladder.

Other than that it was quiet. I was struck by how different it looks when there are not trees to block the view.

I took a small road that runs above the site to try capturing the views that are normally blocked.

As I was snap-snapping away a movement caught my attention. It was a gray kitten and he was running like his life depended on it. Probably does most of the time but not from me.

Then I saw this little black spot. I looked closer and realized there was another kitten, a little black one, and he was staring at me as if to say I dare you to come closer. Of course I had to try. I inched my way a half step at a time. Slowly I got close enough to photograph him. He was still staring at me.

At that point a big delivery truck rumbled past and I looked away to step out of it’s path. After the truck went by I looked back and the kitten was gone.

I went back to the car and sat for a bit to see if either of them would come back. I didn’t see them again but my patience was rewarded by my first sighting of the year of a great blue heron. Spring must be on the way!