Swans and hawks and egrets, oh my!

Well, as you can see, we got a much better of the snowy egret today. He was standing right by the Lullwater edge, hanging out with a giant turtle, enjoying the sun. Ber got this picture. I kept trying to adjust the light meter on my camera, and by the time I was ready he (assuming it is a he) had flown away. It's a good thing there are two of us trying to capture the sights. We also saw one of the swans in that area. This was good - he's been kind of MIA lately. Still hoping he's looking after a nest nearby, but no sign of it.

Just realized that if you click on a picture it gets larger - and you can really see the egret clearly!

The Nethermead was closed to dogs because of the big "Run for the Water." A concert stage, booths, etc., were set up. A raccoon had decided to lay down and die right outside the rent-a-fence they had put up, so we notified a park person. I offered to pick it up if the park person had a bag and gloves, but she said no - an official person would get it. Ber wrote the the Parks Dept. about it. He had done this a couple of weeks ago, when we spotted another dead raccoon. we want to know why it dies, since there have been vague rumors of rabid raccoons. There was no answer at all the first time. I wonder if two dead raccoons will get their attention?

Princess Swan and the Knight of the 1,000 Swans took over to one of the trees that had blown down in the storm. Half the tree was cut up, but the other half is still standing, albeit at a steep angle right over the new playground. You don't have to be a fear-monger to be concerned. The roots look quite shallow, and intertwined with years of trash and plastic bags.

It was cool today, but the sun was shining. Perfect weather for the runners. I think it was a fund-raising run because they only went around once. The serious races make several loops of the 3 mile circular park road.

By the way, Cayuga and entourage are VERY HAPPY with the new wood-chip mulch on the shoreline. It certainly looks far cozier than the hard p[an underneath. No more eggs. I really will take one if I see another one - they aren't being sat upon to hatch as it is. Actually, no one remembers any baby ducklings from last year. They need parental training. Maybe they've forgotten how to nest? Is life too good in a city park?

Of course we did our usual check on the nesting pair of swans. The higher water level makes the nest look bigger - sitting above the water line. Both parents were very close - mom in her nest, pop right there. She seemed to be fussing a lot. We wonder if the cygnets are close to hatching. Perhaps. There was a large hawk in a tree nearby. We're pretty sure it was a hawk. Tried to get photos, but my zoom lens isn't strong enough. It flew off, and the wingspread was DEFINITELY hawk-like. Good thing papa the protector is nearby.

Here's some research about swans: "Swans are the largest and the most beautiful of large waterfowl. The Mute Swan is one of 7 species of swan worldwide. Adult females weigh around 20 lbs. with males around 25 lbs. Average. Weights of up to 38 lbs. have been recorded.

Swans are found in low lying wetland areas of the northeastern Atlantic coast and the Great Lakes. They breed at 3 years of age having a clutch of from 3 to 8 eggs. The gestation period is 35 days from the date of the last egg. During the incubation period the male becomes very territorial and will aggressively protect his mate. He will normally use his strong wings as a weapon instead of biting.

The cygnets are born with a gray downy plumage that eventually turns to white. They can fly in 3 to 4 months and generally stay with the parents until the next breeding season.

Mute Swans have been known to live for over 25 years, but most only survive to 5 or 6 years old. "

Low Flying Swans!

So exciting! I finally got a video of some flying swans! This flying wasn't very high, and the landing not as impressive as the ones I'd seen before, but it's a start. Now I have to get my hand steadier and adjust the movement of the camera to align with the birds. Still I think it's a good start.

Right now we only see 5 swans on the lake. We think there are six - no longer 10. The visiting couple and the lone stranger from the winter seemed to have moved on, and of course one died. Remaining should be two grown females, two grown males, and two adolescent cygnets. One mating pair is accounted for - the nesting pen (name for a female) and the guardian cob (male). The second male was swimming on the lake today, but the second pen seems to be missing. Her cob was seen lately near the Boathouse, so I'm hoping that she has found a well-hidden nesting spot. Hopefully she will show up with baby cygnets in a few weeks, but of course I'm being wildly optimistic.

The Center of the World is still there atop Lookout Hill, but slightly re-arranged. The Grey Goose bottle is gone, so there will be no close-up. Nesting pen was napping on her nest. She lets the ducks get very close, but they stay in the water and don't go on the floating phragmite island upon which her nest is built. Another duck egg sits forlornly by the side of the lake. I'm considering bringing it home and cooking it, since it won't survive there anyway. Need to bring an egg carton to transport it safely.
Other park activity: a bit more police presence in his golf cart. The wood chips from all the recycled Christmas trees and downed trees are being spread by the lakeside. I think it will be much nicer to walk on, and keep the soil from getting so compressed. And a guy with a metal detector! He was turning the soil, so I asked if he'd found anything good - a penny! I think this is great, since I remember when you could actually buy something with a penny. Weather cool, overcast, perfect for long walking, 2 1//2 hours in all!

Teach about ducks, learn about turtles

Another beautiful day, but I was not in the park today - more about that later. Ber and JJ went, and came back with the following reports. The duck egg from yesterday was broken open (see bottom picture). Whether it was an accident or it got eaten, we'll never know. However, another egg was laid today. See second picture - it's sitting right on the middle tree root. (We've since figured out how to use the zoom on Ber's new camera) I think this duck is a little confused- maybe she'll find a more secluded spot soon. Maybe not. It's possible that her instincts tell her to lay the next egg near the last one. Don't think she realizes that she's laying them in the middle of Grand Central Station. As to the learning about turtles, research has been done! Apparently they must swim underwater to get food. So the turtle setting atop the phragmites (in yesterday's photos) was actually stuck. Anne had tried to go in to move it, but sank in the mud. Ber, wearing his waterproof hiking boots, ventured forth. Ed took charge of JJ and the backpack and Ber set out. He found sufficiently solid mud so that he only sank boot level, and got the turtle. Turtle's head went in, and stayed until quite a while after they put it down on the little boat launch by the lake. All three humans backed off, and eventually turtle's head came out and it was last seen swimming happily away in search of fresh food. Anne says the Park Ranger's exam has a question about this, so it's a very useful fact. Turtles Eat Underwater!! Teach about ducks, learn about turtles.

One crack bag, two condoms - it is not just ducks whose thoughts turn to love in the spring.

So, what happened yesterday was that I was prancing around on the top of Lookout Hill, going after a bit of trash that was off the path, put my foot down on some very uneven ground, twisted my leg and fell down hard. I felt ridiculous plus in great pain. Seemed to have pulled the muscle in the back of my thigh and bruised my backside. And I got very little sympathy. My son, who is normally quite sensitive and caring, said, "Most people your age break a hip when they fall." This is the aging part that I can't get used to. When I was young, I was quite limber and quick, mountain goat-like. In fact, when I backpacked around Europe for a year, I actually lived in an abandoned goat pen for a while. In Greece. Me and some fellow travelers that I had hooked up for a while (that's the 20th century definition of hooked, which didn't include sex) stayed there for a couple of weeks on the Greek island of Ios. Maybe 1/2 mile up from the beach on a twisted, bumpy path. Up means up - the view was spectacular. And never a fall. Fond memories of skipping down the the beach, grabbing a cold shower for a few cents from the lone motel, having coffee and yogurt with the lovely crust for breakfast, then swimming, playing, etc. all day. Another 1/2 mile into the town for dinner and maybe a little grocery shopping, then back up to our mountain shelter and a quiet moonlit night. Hmmmm. Now, I think if I exercise a bit more, do some yoga, and get back into shape, I will be like that again. Maybe not. Oddly enough, today there was an article in the Times on that very subject: Appreciating Your Value As You Age. It's more about plastic surgery and make-up than fitness. Never worried about that. i realized a long time ago that I was cute enough, but never had that kind of beauty that I worried about losing it. As long as I acted younger than my years I was fine. And my hair is now a bright reddish-orange, since gray makes my face look gray. Anyway, I am hobbling around today with a sore butt, and hopefully will be back in form tomorrow.