07-APR-2014
The amphibian pond in early spring
A very nice photo by Robert. You can see the water in the pond is now open in part, but it still looks more like winter than spring! Although it may seem hard to believe, in a few more weeks we should see red-winged blackbirds staking out territory in those dead cattails, a preferred nesting site.
02-APR-2014
Mallard, female
This was taken in early April, when snow still lay deep and the pond was frozen, save for a small open area near shore. This female mallard was not bothered by the ice, and in fact, you can see large gatherings of mallards roosting on ice in various locations around Ottawa.
07-APR-2014
Stream through ravine
Robert's photograph shows the ever diminishing snow and the widening stream which meanders through the ravine from the pond, ending up eventually in the Rideau Canal. Mallards have tried nesting here in the past, when water was plentiful, and a mallard pair were around a few days ago, so who knows!
02-APR-2014
Mallard, male
The pond is beginning to open up a bit at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, and this mallard and his mate, were swimming amidst the chunks of ice, looking rather content! A second mallard pair were in the ravine just below the pond.
02-APR-2014
Mallard pair
The small stream that runs out of the pond and into the ravine is flowing freely now, and a pair of mallards were taking advantage of the shallow water.
02-APR-2014
Song sparrow
When I stepped out of the car at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, the first thing I heard was the very welcome sound of the red-winged blackbird, the first I've heard or seen this year. In 2012, these birds were back on March 7, and last year, in mid-March.
Also found today, a singing northern shrike, probably stopping over briefly before carrying on northward. Other birds included many song sparrows, another recent arrival. I saw about 14 altogether. Other birds included a number of cardinals, juncos, crows, chickadees, american goldfinches, american robins, mallards, starlings, and flying over, canada geese and ring-billed gulls, both also recently returned (within the last few weeks). A visitor to the garden reported an American woodcock. We've occasionally seen these in the ravine, but I suspect they occur, in migration, more commonly than we realize, but they are excellent at remaining hidden.
02-APR-2014
Bottlebrush grass
A very attractive native grass, being grown for the Fletcher Wildlife Garden's annual native plant sale (this year, June 7 at the garden).
02-APR-2014
Grey squirrel
Squirrels were busily feeding on spilled seed under both of the feeders at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, and because it is now getting a bit mucky where the snow is melting, this one had muddy hands, feet and face!
02-APR-2014
European starlings
There were several small flocks of starlings around the garden today. They particularly like the big red barn, which is not, strictly speaking, on the FWG site, but is immediately adjacent to it. Here, the starlings find many nesting places, and clearly they were in the nesting mood today. The temperatures have warmed up a bit and spring is definitely in the air.