Friday, June 17, 2011
Whirling morning of basic housework, exercise, planning the day. There are a number of things I would love to do .. however, I just wasn’t able to decide which to start first, so I just decided to grab my camera and go for a walking visit of Swan Lake.And I plan a little side trip to London Drugs, there are some purchases I need to make.
As I enter the side path to the Sanctuary, I feel like a stranger, it’s been weeks since I’ve been here and there have been so many changes. Grasses are taller than I am. The trees and bushes have filled in completely, all dressed up in green for the summer.
I notice at the little boardwalk, some nice person has placed several garbage bags onto the benches, so that any revellers can hopefully place their bottles and cans in these bags and not in the lake or on the deck.
Approaching the water, I see a young mallard mom perched on the sideboards of the walkway .. she flies away when I approach and then I see her young family, swimming and eating, as a group .. I don’t see little mom, and I imagine that she is just a few feet away. Looking after her babies and at the same time, encouraging them to grow by themselves.
I see the little Marsh Wren’s nest is still neatly tucked away amongst the marsh grasses. At first I couldn’t locate it .. and was very happy to see it hidden away, still safe.
Continuing along the path, I see some Spotted Towhees … hopping along in the side brush, looking for some food.
Not many people walking on the Goose this time of the day .. a bit of quiet along the way.
Returning to the Sanctuary, I continue on to the Tuesday Pond … and the waters are barely there . .. with the result, there aren’t any ducks or geese there. However, I do hear two big frogs twitter as they leap into the water. Later, one comes up for air so I snap some pics.
Quickly I make my way to the large observatory .. no birds to see and finally, the long walkway … and I see the other Marsh Wren’s nest, neatly tucked away. And off to the side is another young Mallard mom, with her 4 tiny little ducklings.
Homeward bound, happy that I’ve reconnected with this beautiful natural setting and now I look forward to spending some hours of toil outside in the yard!!!
🙂
