It had been rainy and windy for several days, so I hadn't been able to get to the park. My camera is not waterproof and I can't use it under those conditions. Also, with the enormous number of widow-makers dangling from the trees, I didn't think it was wise to visit the park when the wind was gusting the way it was. At 5' 2", I'm short enough already. I don't need to be pounded down any shorter. The 19th of February was forecasted to be the only dry day sandwiched in between a number of fronts bearing rain, so if I was going to get to the park, it would have to be on Sunday. I had a whole lot of other things already on the table for Sunday, so squeezing in a trip to the park promised to be a challenge. It was a challenge that I was up for though. When I left the house, my outdoor thermometer said it was 41 degs F., but it felt a lot colder than that to me. Never-the-less, I threw on my winter rain gear and headed out the door.
I carefully examined all of the usual places and saw no frogs, salamanders, amphibian eggs, snails, slugs, or snakes. Everyone is still in hiding. No doubt they're smarter than we are. The weather-people are forecasting snow in the lowlands for later in the week, specifically next Saturday. That goes to figure, as a work-party is scheduled to remove invasive Himalayan blackberry canes and plant native vegetation at the Blueberry Farm on Saturday. You're invited to throw on your winter rain-gear, grab your work gloves, and come play in the mud with us. Many hands make light work! We can use all the volunteers who are willing!
Hooded-mergansers were hanging out on Brooklake with some of the mallards. This is a female merganser.
This is her mate.
This is the bufflehead that's been hanging out at Marlake with the mateless female hooded-merganser there. I don't know how well these ducks can see, but I can see how the female might mistake the bufflehead for a mate, can't you?
Marlake is full of ducks and geese. There must be at least six or eight pairs of mallards on the lake, plus another six or eight pairs of American wigeons, and two pairs of Canada geese, plus the bufflehead, ring-neck, and hooded-merganser. The grass edging Maralke is almost solid goose doodle, so be sure to wear your old shoes and pay attention to where you're walking, because it's nearly impossible to avoid stepping in it.
The American wigeons and male mallards painted Marlake with splashes of brilliant green. What a beautiful sight!
A Northern flicker was on the ground searching for bugs among the leaf litter and grass in the orchard.
Look at the size of the breast on this robin. It's enormous! Robins and dark-eyed juncos were hopping all over the grass in the orchard looking for bugs and worms that the flicker might have missed. They seemed to be doing quite well. I watched the robins spear one worm after another without too much effort.
Teri I. Lenfest
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