About an hour ago, his guy paraded through the yard from the driveway to within 15 feet of the porch and into the woods beyond.
Smokey Visits
Author: Bob
New Fawn
A doe dropped by this afternoon to show off her new fawn. Shortly afterward, a solitary buck ran through the front yard and into the woods. Busy day around the pond so far.
Big Day on the Pond
Well, it’s been a busy, busy time around the pond during the last couple of days. Doesn’t do much good to bring the suet feeders in at night. The bears around here are so dumb that they mistook two of our hanging baskets for feeders and tore them down. Not much damage to the plants, but I assume that the bear’s self respect suffered a bit. Especially if this was an old sow trying to show the ropes to her new cubs. Hard to maintain discipline when you humiliate yourself in front of the kids. One of the hanging baskets, by the way, has been recently occupied by a pair of birds with plans, I’m sure, to raise a family there. This will involve a little finesse when the plants are watered to avoid an unwelcome bath on the birds. The hazards of being a squatter. The heron flew in early this morning and disappeared. I assumed that it was lurking somewhere at the back of the pond when it flew out of some heavy brush on the island. It landed high in a pine tree where it hung out for a couple of hours before taking off, circumnavigating the house a couple times and returning to the tree. I think it’s still up there. Interesting sidelight–a coyote took a couple of runs through the front yard this morning before loping off into the woods. And the piece de resistance of the day so far: as I was talking on the phone, a large bear walked out of the woods and jumped into the back of the pond. It was swimming in this direction before climbing back onto dry land. We’re wondering if it will show up here, but that was some time ago so it’s probably long gone. Gone but not forgotten.
Hi Mom!
A great blue heron glided in next to the ledge and immediately began to fish its way around the edge of the pond toward the porch. By the time it arrived there it had scarfed down two 4″ bass. From there it flew to the island and chugged down two more before disappearing into the heavy brush on the other side of the island. God knows how many more it swiped while we weren’t looking. Hope it managed to become airborne at the end of the day. We don’t mind. At this time of the year there are clouds of match stick size fingerlings scattered around the pond. Bass parents are cannibalistic and are well known for rampant infanticide. (Hi, mom–what the–?!). Thus it’s the rare bass child that lasts long enough to be even a small heron hors d’oeuvre. We like it that way. We try to keep things around the pond as natural as possible, Mother Nature’s mood swings notwithstanding. We don’t eat the bass. They’re such bony little things. The grass carp are larger, but sterile and have no sex life. I feel so sorry for them that I couldn’t possibly eat one. I haven’t asked about that. I’m sure it’s a very touchy subject as far as grass carp are concern
Fawn
Well, it’s been a busy time around the pond of late. A great blue heron flew in during early afternoon–its 4th visit to our humble little hideaway. It landed at the back of the pond and circumnavigated the periphery. It spent an hour on the island, eventually flying to within about 15 ft of the porch. It then gave a demonstration of its fishing prowess by whacking a small bass and taking it down in one gulp. Didn’t even leave a tip. It’s now continuing its murderous rampage at the back of the pond. Since my lovely bride requires all local fauna to be given the dignity of a name, it has been christened Harry. I guess it’s going to have to live with that. She didn’t ask. Several small herds of deer have dropped by, including a young buck dubbed Daryl Deer by her nibs. There is also the possibility that Daryl is, instead, Darylle. Again, she didn’t ask. I guess he/she will have to find out for him/herself during next rutting season. To further complicate things, we aren’t even sure that Daryl is the same guy (?) that was here last summer. Daryl 1.0 or Daryl 2.0? Who knows?
We were treated to our first fawn of the season yesterday. A tiny little thing no more than a week old. It became infatuated with a stand of ferns near the edge of the pond. It was barely a couple of inches taller than the smallest fern so only its head was partially visible most of the time. Mom finally tired of its shenanigans and hurried it along. We rounded out the day with the splash down of a flight of 6 geese at sunset. It’s a good two weeks after migration season. I guess they didn’t get the memo. Someone should tell them that that’s how the dinosaurs got into trouble.
For the Fallen
For the Fallen–Memorial Day–5/28/2018
Night Owls
Moonrise on the pond after a quiet sunny day. The crickets and peepers are well into their evening chorale. A couple of families of owls are having an argument in the woods nearby.. A few bats are having an evening snack on some bugs that are hatching on the pond. Other than that, the sound of silence.
Quiet Day
A bright quiet day around the pond today. You know that it’s been quiet when two very small chipmunks playing around the yard have become an event. Which they have. Well, terminal cuteness helps. The birds had the stage all to themselves until the peepers tuned in with their evening song. Ten woods turtles sunned themselves on the bank all day. Around mid-afternoon a huge snapper surfaced, took station for about a half hour next to the island and cast a dour eye on surroundings. Dark day for the frogs. A large solitary buck foraged among the brush and dry leaves in the woods near the driveway. Probably looking for acorns fallen from some unlucky squirrel’s booty. He was still wearing his dark winter uniform. It’s been a reluctant spring and some of winter’s trappings are loath to disappear. Disregarding all of that, a very small rabbit has taken claim to the front yard and my lovely bride’s heart. A small, but notable occurrence: the stink bugs have suddenly and completely disappeared. The geese, too, have apparently fled for good. Thus, two of our neighborhood nemeses have gone and left our little enclave a more peaceful place.
Happy Spring!
Happy Spring!!
Spring Quiet
Things around the pond have been very quiet compared to the flurry of the recent migration season. Except for the little resident mallard family, our winged guests have, as it were, flown the coop. Even the geese have moved on to parts unknown and taken their gastric gratuities with them. And good riddance. They apparently got the clear indication that they were persona non grata from my decibellicose bride and her bullhorn. We do have regular visits from the local deer. However. they are polite, very quiet, and have much more delicate potty habits than the geese. The spring foliage is at its peak of verdant glory. Things seem to be taking a breath prior to the debut of spring fauns, cubs, and other juvenile critters. Quiet is good. And here in this small green hideaway, it’s very good.
