Animal Life in the Park

Gorgeous morning in the park, and it looks like the entire borough of Brooklyn was there. Perfectly clear blue sky, and the lights and darks in the trees, etc., were so crisp and clear!

Many fisherman around the lake - they all looked responsible, let's hope so. Tons of dogs and owners on the newly mowed Nethermead. So nice not to get wet sneakers! I keep taking pictures of the dog groups, but they never come out looking like much. Oh well. The geese seem happily hanging out on the beach. Lots of turtles sunning, including one teeny one on a huge log. The picture does not do it justice - it was only about 2 inches long, but the zoom lens makes it look bit.

There was a white egret in the Audubon lake, as well as the swans. And there was a cygnet riding on Mama's back! So cute!! I don't know if only one rides or if they take turns, and will probably never know. All the cygnets look exactly alike to me. My husband and I have ODD (Observational Deficit Disorder).

The only think subtracting from the total perfection of the day was a black helicopter which kept going around and around the Nethermead - big, close, noisy.

Nice hike over Lookout Hill. Only 3 crack bags, but 6, count them, 6 plastic trash bags (no longer there.) Need I ask what is wrong with people yet again? The top of the hill used to be flat and empty, but now is fully grown. Lovely plant life around the edges. Raspberries not ready to eat - give them another week or two.

Wildlife count

Today's wildlife count: 14 geese, 5 crack bags, 3 cygnets, and a beautiful big white snowy egret. No pictures - I used up my camera's battery. Very annoying. I knew the battery was getting low, and left it next to the camera. However, in the mental haze of getting to the park early, I completely forgot it. I used to be kind of spontaneous and free-spirited and remember all kinds of things. Now, sad to say, I have to organize myself in order to remember things. So I leave the things I'll need to take to the park on top of the hall bookcase the night before - glasses, camera, watch. Now it seems like that doesn't work - it takes days to develop a new habit. Something to do with getting older. Oh well, it's better than the alternative.

Amazing that they did the Sunday trash pickup, since every can was overflowing again today. I picked up a lot more than just crack bags on Lookout Hill today. There was a huge beverage tray - the kind that the delivery trucks use. And limes, so I presume that it was a full party's worth of beer. Did not see the beer cans! Guess I wasn't the only one who wanted to stay all day in the park in the beautiful weather yesterday. And it makes up for the cooler, grayer weather that we'll have all week.

Miscellaneous spring stuff

There's a big, beautiful great snowy egret on the lake. I couldn't find my camera this morning, but daughter N got one with her telephone. Anne-Katrin had e-mailed me to watch out for it, so I'm sure I have the right name for this bird. I can understand how I got confused - it has the same beautiful long, graceful neck as the cormorants.

22 crack bags going up the hill, along with innumerable beer cans and sweet cigar wrappers. I'm not the only one who enjoys the park in spring. I did quite a trash pick-up job!

Candleman is keeping his area quite tidy - only one candle/can there, and it's not lit. My little note requesting a clean up is still there, but the thank you note is gone! N thinks someone just came upon and thought it was nice. I hope Candleman doesn't take it the wrong way and think I no longer appreciate his efforts to keep the area nice looking.

Nothing spectacular today, just a lovely day with the dogs in the park.

Just an average day, with no horror stories

So, the first thing we do when we get to the park these days is go and check on the nesting swans. This seems to be the only swan family in the park these days, and we are amazingly concerned about their welfare. It feels like being an imminent parent all over again - waiting for the cygnets to hatch. I'm estimating they'll hatch sometime in May, although we really don't know, since we don't know when she started setting on them. Occasionally, I wonder to myself, "What if they never hatch." and feel quite anxious and fearful about that possibility.

Papa was exceptionally protective today - came over to us and hissed and spread his wings when we were standing on the shore. We were just trying to get close enough to take a picture of an egret hanging out there - one with grayish wings at the edges. The second picture has this egret - enlarge, and it's there. This is not the all-white one we've seen and whom we saw today by the Lullwater). A birder we stopped and asked says the grayish feathers are usually the sign of an immature egret. He also tells us that they usually don't nest here, but in Jamaica Bay or Brother Island, and that they fly miles each day to search for food.

Weather stunningly gorgeous and clear today and yesterday. A little chilly - just right for walking. We spotted a robin's nest yesterday - nice to know the eggs don't all end up on the ground. Also noted progress in the playground: large, domed structure being set up. The BBQ cages are almost finished, and they are nowhere near the playground. Don't quite understand this. There used to be a nice little BBQ grove next to the playground, so the adults could socialize while the children played in the playground. Now they are quite far from each other, and the BBQ cage seems quite unwelcoming. Maybe that's the idea? And is the fence permanent? I have noticed that no fence ever seems to come down in the park - there are falling down fences everywhere. I wonder if this is a strategy or just laziness/neglect/budget cuts.

Clean-up notes: the disgusting mess is still there, but drying out. Probably good that there's no rain for a bit. Speaking of no rain, the lake level is down slightly, and some of the mini-lakes are reduced to mud puddles. We noticed yesterday that the disgusting paper was blowing around, so I gritted my teeth and picked it up and brought it to a trash can. Luckily, we now come to the park with rubber gloves and handi-wipes, in addition to the usual plastic bags for the dog.

Another can/candle/tin foil combination in the same spot as before, this time new, with no fire burning. Took it to the trash can. If I keep removing it, will the person give up? Yesterday we (well, Ber) moved the plywood near to a trash can - someone had put it back in the water, so we dragged it further away. Not picked up yet, lying on the ground by the can.