Where have the birds gone?

Alas! Now that the snow is gone, so are the birds...here is a fond memory of a cardinal who visited me just weeks ago!

DUCK POND REPORT: FIRST WARM DAY OF THE YEAR

First warm day of the year!

This was the first warm day of the year and I had not visited the duckpond since the snow was piled heavily on the ground in January.  I could hardly wait!

The duck pond was a veritable hotbed of spring activity.  The livliest day yet in the duckpond!  After a brief flurry to celebrate my arrival, the ducks forgot I was there and settled down to frisky activites.  

The Smew

The small black and white smew was taking an extremely long and exuberant bath, splashing all over the pond and making huge amounts of bubbles.  Between dippings he raced around the pond as if pursued by someone. I checked to see if a female skew was in sight (or any pursuer at all) but saw no one.

The Mandarins

 Then a cute pair of mandarin ducks were billing and cooing and the male appeared to plant a kiss of sorts on his “friend.”

The Silver Wood Ducks 

The silver wood duck drakes surrounded a hen, while the silver wood duck potential mate was totally ignored. She stood quietly off to the side while a fuss was made over the brown hen who was quite taken with all the attention. At one point two silver drakes appear to lear at her. Later she kisses one of them and also leans down into the water to speak to a third silver candidate.  She eventually paired

off with one of the silver drakes and the others disappear. I wonder what happened to the regular greenish wood duck.

The White Mandarins

Last but not least the white mandarins made beautiful scenes against the white patches of snow and hung out together as usual.

I was hoping for some action between the hooded mergansers but they just hung out together quietly.

Respectfully submitted,  Carol

My Snowy Mornings in Farmington Exhibit (January 2009)

Thought I would post a photo of my nature exhibit for the month of January. It was in a lovely gallery of a museum called "Stanley Whitman" in Farmington Connecticut. This is my favorite corner of the exhibit. It was called "Snowy Mornings in Farmington." Currently I have another exhibit in the Farmington library for February. I will post a photo of it soon.

My first birdfeeder

Little did I realize until last month that my barren deck normally so deserted in winter could be a place with live creatures and colors. Braving December's first big snowstorm, I went to one of the few landscape stores still open at 5pm and begged for help.

I emerged with my first bird feeder, free advice (my girlfriend helped too! ) and alot of ... you guessed it, many many SEEDS!! The attached bird is one of my first visitors the next snowy morning, much to my delight. Can you identify this bird?

My First Visit to The Sanctuary

Many different swan species at the sanctuary, all hanging out together.

I was lucky in 2008 and 2009.  I got unlimited access to two incredible sanctuaries. I'd met the owner of one of them (KR) who invited me to take pictures of his "swans" of which he said he had a large collection.

I couldn't have been less interested at first. I was only into nature photography - trees, rivers, snow.  But he kept asking and asking me, telling me this was the season they were all the most beautiful. So I went.



It was an unforgettable experience.  I felt as if I had been bitten by a bird full of the most mesmerizing nectar, like triple ambrosia, and since that bite, I have never been the same.

Mute Swan in threat posture

The rush of the water, the innocent winged beauty of the animals who raced, played and posed in the water are something I can never forget!

My first sight at the sanctuary was a lake of multiple swans, each more beautiful than the next.

Creative rending of mute swan.

I first watched a gorgeous mute swan lift his wings, charging directly at me, only to shift course and speed away in the opposite direction when nearing the bank of the lake.I had seen many swans in my lifetime but never such a gorgeous creature. Having recently taken up photo art, he was the first bird to bear the benefits of my blossoming creativities. I learned that as beautiful as these animals are in raising their wings, they are in "threat" posture, having perceived possible danger. By raising their wings like the swan below, they appear "larger" to their competitors.

After admiring the large mute swan, I watched a few swans cavorting together. Mixed breeds were accompanying each other back and forth across the lake, chasing, drifting, all looking beautiful!

Mute swan and whooper swan hanging out together

Mute Swan to Whooper Swan: I can swim faster than you can!

Next I noticed two coscorba swans peeking out from behind a bush.

Shy Coscoroba Swans checking out the scene

After this, I saw a Whooper Swan by herself, a Black Necked Swan and even a Black Swan!  

Mesmerized by Swans!

Whooper Swan

Black Necked Swan

Coscoroba Swan Trio

Last but not least, I watched a beautiful Swan preen herself.  Every single feather was viewed and worked on!

After the mystical swan experience, I checked out The Sanctuary's nearby Duck Pond where about many different ducks were cavorting near a mouthwatering waterfall! 

Chestnut Breasted Teal

After enjoying the waterfall, I checked out a few of the individual colorful ducks...the drakes fully decked out for their spring activities. What a sight!

Rosybill Drake
readu for actopm

Barrows Golden Eye D

Bidding one last goodbye to the mesmerizing swans, I took my leave. I knew this first visit would NOT be the only one!

Carol Lowbeer, March 23, 2008