Even with the arrival of spring I have to admit that the last several trips to the Fish Pond have seemed rather ho-hum. It’s actually been difficult to even find the motivation to go.Arriving a little late this morning the pond seemed empty. I got set up and scanned the edges of the pond several times but I saw nothing. There were two Wood Duck drakes I didn’t see until something startled them and they flew across the far end of the water. They landed and swam under a large pine where they were again hidden from view. Catching only this brief glimpse of them it looked like it would be another slow day at the Fish Pond.
It had been almost an hour since I had last seen the Wood Ducks when I heard a noisy Seagull approaching the pond. It flew back and forth over the trees above and behind my blind where I could not see it. I did see it shadow and the shadow of something larger that it appeared to be chasing and darting after. Since several ravens had started to call I thought it was probably one of them. I was very surprised when the gull and its target finally appeared over the pond. It was a Bald Eagle.This is the first time I have ever seen a gull chasing an eagle. Normally they make themselves very scarce when any of the large raptors are around but amidst the encouraging calls of the ravens it was doing a great job of harassing the larger bird.
The eagle finally decided to land in what seems to be becoming one of her favorite perches. While I can’t get a good view of it from my photo blind the ravens could and they spent the better part of twenty minutes pestering her. Deciding that she was not going to let them press her out of her spot over the stream they finally gave up and quieted down.
All of the activity must have peaked the Wood Ducks interest. They had followed shore to the mouth of the stream where they seemed totally unaware of the eagle’s presence. When one of them did spot her a minute or so later they immediately bolted quickly flying back to the safety of the pine tree where they had been before.The eagle sat watching the stream for ten or fifteen minutes before lifting off and flying along the tree tops away from the pond. While I was glad to have seen her I was disappointed that I did not get an opportunity to get a decent photo of her.
Things quickly went back to being very quiet and stayed that way for almost an hour. I had resolved myself to being happy with a couple of good shots of the Wood Ducks and what has become a rare visit from my friend the eagle when a shadow on the water once again caught my attention. Looking up I just managed a glimpse of the eagle. Wings and white tail feathers spread wide she glided in below the tree tops this time. Her quick trip to a lower perch over the stream went unnoticed by the ravens or seagulls.
It’s a good thing our neighborhood Bald Eagles prefer fish to ducks otherwise the pair of Mallards that arrived less than a minute after she did could have been her lunch. Landing practically in the mouth of the inlet stream they swam almost right under her. Other than a look or two she all but ignored them though. I don’t think they even realized she was there at first. Even after I saw the drake tilt his head and look up at her they didn’t seem to worried about her presence.
The arrival of the Mallards brought the Wood Ducks out of hiding again and for about thirty minutes everything seemed to be peaceful. The ducks fed and moved about the pond while the eagle sat quietly staring intently down at the stream.
That all came to a very abrupt end though when a Great Blue Heron showed up.
While the eagle and ducks seemed willing to share the pond with each other the eagle was not so willing to tolerate the heron. She quickly turned on her perch and dived down through the trees making a beeline for the large blue gray bird. The heron was not about to argue and quickly vacated its spot and sought cover among the thicker branches of a dead pine. The eagle did an abrupt 180 and flew to the bank along the stream’s mouth. It then became obvious why the eagle didn’t like the presence of a bird that could be looking to lunch on the same things as her.
She hopped onto a dead branch just off the shore and grabbed a recently deceased rainbow trout that was lying in the water next to it. She adjusted her grip on it and with great swooshing beats of her wings she slowly lifted herself and her meal into the air.
Heading out low across the water she built speed and angled up toward the tree in which the heron had sought refuge once again sending it flying and hissing. Perching on a good-sized branch about half way up the tree she settled in to enjoy a quick meal before leaving. Hopefully to share what remained of it with young ones.
Needless to say I now remember why it is that I go to the pond. While its usually quiet, relaxing and even sometimes boring there are times that it is wonderfully exciting to be able to witness these small moments in the lives of some fantastic animals. To be able to sit within fifty feet of a Bald Eagle and watch it as it takes flight with a fish in its talons is something I can only hope I can adequately share with anyone who reads this.Even if you don’t have a place like the Fish Pond visit there are great opportunities to enjoy the world around you. Local lakes, rivers and woodlands all are loaded with wildlife if you can find a spot to sit quietly and watch for an hour or so. All you have to do is take the time to get outside!
Have a great one and please feel free to leave a comment if you would like!
Kevin
Something just seems special about the morning light in the springtime. The sunlight almost seems to glow as it filters through the budding tree leaves. Shadows seem softer and it makes you feel as though the temperature outside is just perfect no matter what it actually is.
There really weren’t any prolonged interactions between any of the animals that were at the pond today nor were there any amazing new plant discoveries. There were however a few brief moments of excitement.
Not much went on until about ten a.m. when a lone Wood Duck Drake showed up. He weaved his way around the edge of the pond occasionally diving, drinking and stretching as he went. Not long after he landed a pair of Mallards who had been hiding around the corner from where I was came out to investigate the new arrival but paid him little notice after that.
The three of them swam along the far shore enjoying the morning and with the exception of three Hooded Mergansers who stopped by briefly to dive for fish they were the only things I saw “on” the water today.
Above the pond was a different storythough. In addition to the usual crows and small songbirds it was pretty busy up in the air. 
Hawks are not what I would call a common site at the pond but there were at least three different ones that soared by today all shadowed by one or two gliding Turkey Vultures. 
They didn’t stay long though since their presence did not seem appreciated by the local Crow populations who quickly chased them out of the area.
I have never seen more than one of the extremely shy Green Heron at the pond at one time before. There must have been a battle for nesting territory going on today though. There were four of them calling loudly and chasing each other from tree to tree around the pond. They were so distracted with each other that they weren’t even bothered by my moving around to try to get their picture. They are a very pretty bird to watch fly and although they are normally quiet the calls they make when they are agitated are almost as loud as some eagle calls.
Signs that spring has completely arrived were everywhere. Budding leaves, moth’s, butterflies and the first hints of pink appearing on what will become blossoms on the ponds only apple tree can only mean that winter is indeed gone at last. I suppose I can no longer put off mowing the lawn.
At any rate if you can find a quiet place to get outside this holiday weekend by all means do so. Even if it’s only for an hour to sit and watch your bird feeders take a few minutes to make note of the many different birds and animals that have almost magically returned!
The yellow green color of budding leaves is beginning to add a taste of the warmer seasons to the trees around the Fish Pond.
Everywhere you look life is popping up. Under a fallen tree plants that look like they could have been the inspiration for a building on some far away planet in a Star Wars adventure reach up into the warm air while trilliums, dandelions and other wildflowers seem to be starting to rejoice in winters passing.
While most of the animals that live in and around the Fish Pond have pretty much wrapped up their mate selections their is still one Mallard drake at the pond that is very nervous about who gets to close to the hen he is with. 
They were the only two on the water for most of the morning. The drake followed the hen back and forth along the shoreline feeding resting until about 10 a.m..
Fortunately he didn’t see me but the male of the pair that was resting on the far end of the pond certainly saw him and there was no politeness in his tone as he and the hen made a beeline across the water. The paired male increased his speed, water building in front of him, as he got closer to the newcomer. When he got close enough he lunged at the new drake sending him flying to the far side of the pond.
Usually this display and distance would have been enough to settle down most duck territory claims but not today. This guy didn’t seem to want any competition anywhere on the pond. With hen in tow he swam at full speed straight back across the pond in pursuit of his rival. For more than an hour he repeatedly chased the new guy far up onto the bank.
When the loner would see an opportunity to make it back to the water he would make a waddling dash down the hill and try to avoid his tormentor by swimming away from him through the fallen trees that line the far shore but to no avail. The original male would quickly resume the chase biting at and herding the poor visitor away form the hen who for the most part seemed disinterested in the whole affair.
I spent only a few hours sitting still or slowly walking through the woods today but I managed to see a wealth of small natural wonders. A young Bald Eagle soaring over the trees as it was hunting, the ripples that shimmered across the pond as gusts of wind moved along the waters surface and the wonderful colors of the spring flowers that seem to add a little sunshine to even the cloudiest day.
It doesn’t take long to become a fan of the great outdoors and the couple of hours it takes once or twice a week to get out and explore can do wonders for the way you feel about life in general.
After not visiting the Fish Pond for a few weeks it was great to be able to enjoy a few hours out in the chilly spring sunshine and to discover my first wildflower of the season.
Even though the grasses around the pond are sprouting and several different types of trees are beginning to bud it certainly didn’t feel like spring this morning at the Fish Pond. While overnight temperatures did not dip as low as had been forecast there was a strong, steady and cold wind blowing this morning that left my fingers numb after only a few minutes. 
I don’t know if it was the weather or possibly that the female ducks have started to nest but there was very little going on at the Fish Pond. Mid morning a Mallard drake landed in the center of the pond and nervously scanned the shoreline for any sign of friendly waterfowl. He found none and seemed very happy when a Wood Duck drake arrived just a few minutes after he did. He swam anxiously towards the new arrival and shadowed him as the Woody made his way through the overhanging branches along the southern bank. 
They had been at the pond less than five minutes when they left in the same order they had arrived. The Mallard quacked several times and sprang from the water. The Wood Duck appeared to become very nervous being the only duck on the pond and he quickly departed in the same direction as the Mallard.
My friends the Kingfishers have returned. While they are nothing to brag about I did get pictures of both male and female (above) as they went through their customary nesting area departure and approach rituals. The female seemed to be sticking pretty close to the pond but the male disappeared through the trees several times to go hunting. Since I saw him returning with food at least twice I would guess he has found a pretty good fishing spot somewhere close by.
While I also caught glimpses of an immature Bald Eagle, a Great Blue Heron and what looked like some kind of Sandpiper the longest visit to the pond this morning was made by a Crested Cormorant. It was hard to conceal myself from him because he would travel so far underwater each time he dove that I would have to drastically shift my position when he surfaced.
I’m know he caught me moving the time he surface less than 15 feet in front of my blind. He was close enough that even if he didn’t notice my movements I’m confident he heard my whispered "Oh &#!*" when he popped up and surprised me.
I have made a couple of trips to check on my favorite eagle’s nest so far this spring and twice there has at least been one mature bird there. After my pond visit I decided to make my way there again to see if there was any activity but there was not. I know that this time last year they had eggs in the nest and I am surprised they do not seem to have any yet this season.
Even if there had been nothing at the Fish Pond this morning it was great just to be there taking it all in. The snow slowly retreating away from the warm morning sun, one of winters last shimmering frosts that seemed to linger just long enough to be noticed before disappearing, the sound of returning songbirds.
The waterfowl at the pond certainly know what time it is. When I arrived I could see a group of large white Common Mergansers working back and forth near the inlet stream. There were several drakes all sticking very close to one hen.
She seemed to have one in the group that had laid claim to her and he was busy making sure none of his rivals got to close. It was quite a chore since the others were determined not to get to far away from her.
There was a pair of small Buffleheads (below top) who spent the morning feeding and, along with a couple of Common Goldeneye hens (below bottom), they seemed to be enjoying unsettling the Mergansers activities with an occasional unexpected flight across the pond.
I was happy to see that the Wood Ducks have returned.
There were a couple of Drakes chasing each other through the branches along the shore. The winner must have impressed the lone hen that was there as once he had banished his competition to the outer reaches of the pond she allowed him to do his part to ensure the survival of the species.
She swam out into the open and lowered her head onto the surface and did not resist when he climbed on top of her. It took only a few seconds and they quickly made their way back to the safety of the shore.
Even the Trout know what time it is. I spent a little time watching as a small female cleared a spot to lay her eggs while her male companion vigorously defended her from other potential suitors.
It was a great morning to be outside enjoying the changing of the northern Michigan seasons. If you live in the north and are ready to shake off your annual case of cabin fever or if you live somewhere that spring is in full swing and need a little break just get out side. Even if it’s only to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or a morning snack on the back porch you won’t find anything as good for the soul as a little time in the great outdoors!
Have a great one.
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