If you’ve visited this blog before, you probably know I’m a huge fan of Wood Ducks, by far the most colourful waterfowl we see here. As this shot from last fall shows, each adult in a pair has quite distinctive and different colouring as shown below
(Click any image to enlarge it in a new tab):
Relatively rarely, however, have I seen or photographed them in the Marsh. More often I see them in one or both of the Belmont Ponds that are only a couple of hundred metres from home. And every Spring and Fall they are a highlight of the season for me and many others who may not really be “birders” in the usual sense.
Here are some highlights of the small band that visited us from March into May 2018. Most of the shots that follow are from the end of March and early April. At the end of this post, however, there’s something special — a first for my observations in this location….
My first glimpse of the WODUs’ return happened in Thomson Marsh, on the Ides of March, before all the ice was gone there or on Belmont Ponds: unexpected — and exciting:
This fella was following his mate, more hunched up than usual for a drake…. Looks a little dazed, or is that dazzled…?
Here we are in mid-March. The snow is 85% gone, and Thomson Marsh again is ice free. Michaelbrook is only 50% thawed, but will come along quickly now.
The larger Belmont Pond is 80% ice free (it thawed suddenly over two days, and will be all gone the day after tomorrow). Today, we had two pairs of WODUs, one pair of COGOs, a couple of pairs of Mallards, and, of course, Ralph, the GBHE….
It really feels as if Spring has arrived at last — the first Violet Green Swallows over the marshes, and even a couple checking out the foundation wall of our condo despite the new townhouses crowded onto the old vacant lot over which they used to cruise after filling up on insects over Belmont Ponds. Should know in a few days if they’re prepared to adapt to the changed environment or not.
Also saw a flock of waxwings, possibly CEWAs flying in and around the TM Raptor tree. The BOWAs are still hanging around Mission Creek, and should be checking out soon….
Better images followed:
The lady of this species is often overshadowed by her more colourful mate.
Here’s a set from March 20 to address that oversight…
Click any of the images below to view it fully & enlarged in a separate window….
Click either image below to view it fully & enlarged in a separate window….
(from March 28 also)
But there was a little trouble brewing in Pond City. A single female was attempting to turn one pair into a threesome. Ironically(?), it was the drake that put an end to it. In the process, our “unloved duck” lost a few head feathers….
Will leave viewers to decide if I succeeded….
And, now we’ll end this saga from Spring 2018 with this set all from April 20 dealing with a recurring theme in my Belmont photos — Wood Ducks minding turtles — starring William Wodu and a trio of Western Painted turtles,
Melbert on the left end, Malcomb in the middle and Mini-Mickey…..
Click images to enlarge in a new tab.
You might say this is like having your lake and logging in, too!”
Just as on Winter’s most miserable days, Summer’s afternoon imitations of Hell send me back to this place to do some writing.
birds & musings 