Around the Hideaway

Well, things are suddenly getting very active around Hideaway Pond. Subtle signs of an early spring are beginning to show. The dark reds of the swamp maple buds are ablaze. Daffodils have grown a brave four inches in face of the last frigid gasps of late winter. A few shy azalea buds–those that the deer haven’t eaten–are sampling the early spring air. And the Andromeda, always at the vanguard of spring, is loaded with blossoms. Before long, lilies of the valley will peek out from its shadow.

Last evening a buck and four does chased by. Guess the they didn’t get the memo that rutting season is long over. Any self respecting doe should be dropping a fawn or two about now.
But who am I to question their cervidaen shenanigans?

Chuck, the resident groundhog has finally emerged from his luxurious digs in the abandoned drainpipe near the pond. This morning he surprised us by running from under the porch to an undisclosed destination in the woods. He was last seen running up the driveway and into a small shady cave in the ledge. I hear by the critter grape vine that he’s prospecting for a cool summer home. Some groundhogs like to feign an upper class social status. Summer home, indeed.

The guys running the landfill say that the bears are out. And what better authority on this subject than the guys running the landfill? That means that very hungry mom bears and their cubs are emerging from their winter shelters. It’s been a long winter without nourishment for Mom. Most of her energy has been devoted to the birth and nursing of her cubs. And, as with most stay at home moms, her long indoor confinement hasn’t improved her disposition.

Smaller critters like squirrels and rabbits, find themselves in the same family way as the bears. Albeit on a much smaller scale. And they are far less likely to be found gnawing on a careless human being. Though a pissed squirrel is not to be trifled with.

A few of the grass carp have roused from their winter stupor. Their noses carve small wakes on the surface of the pond as they skim for skimpy detritus blown in by the wind. They’ll find better fare as spring brings with it fresh pond vegetation. The annual high point of their sad sterile little existence. “Splendor in the Grass“.

A couple of days ago, two flights of wood ducks and one of hooded mergansers splashed down on the pond. And two hooded mergansers arrived yesterday. All of them lifted off north at sunset. Not even a note of thanks. Just ate, pooped and left. Sheesh.

Arriving with yesterday’s mergansers were a pair of geese. Being highly territorial, they are not getting along well with the pair who planted their flag here two weeks ago. The new pair have established a beachhead on the island. However, having observed the bellicose behavior of the resident pair, we expect that the interlopers will soon flee. Meanwhile, their open warfare has provided an afternoon of entertainment.

OK. Just as I thought the drama was coming to an end, the visiting pair has decided to indulge in a little extracurricular avian–um–well, you get my drift. In the water. All while waging war.

Time for dinner. I’ll watch the reruns.

“Anything worth fighting for is worth fighting dirty for.”
– Unknown

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