What Will The Groundhog Predict?

Tomorrow is the big day when groundshogs predict whether we have six more weeks of winter or if spring is on the way.  The tradition originated in the Old Word with an ancient celebration of the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox.

Punxsutawney Phil  may be the most well known but locally our groundhog predictor is "Sir Walter Wallie" (a take off on Sir Walter Raleigh) for whom Raleigh is named.  With overcast skies predicted for most of the day tomorrow, bets are he will not see his shadow.

So despite whatever the outcome, mother nature is already showing signs of spring.  The daffodils have begun opening in the yard, azaleas are starting to show tale-tale signs of future blooms  and trees in protected sunny locations are showing signs of coming to life.

Duck, Duck Duck, Goose

Female Merganser stretching after mating

Merganser couple looking pleased with themselves

Mr. Bufflehead and the Mrs. below

Red-Shouldered Hawks & Eagle Cam Info

Lazy start this morning as temps dipped to about 29 last night.  It has warmed up fairly nicely this afternoon but temps are about 12 deg cooler than yesterday but still a beautiful day for the end of January.  I was getting things together to go out for a bit this morning when I heard the hawks calling,  Following was the alarm honking of the geese on the pond and the fussing of birds and squirrels.

I stepped out to see if I could spot the hawks.  They have been visiting the yard frequently and I believe checking out potential nesting sites.  It has been three years since they nested in a tree by the side of the house where I had opportunity to closely observe them.

One was sitting in one tree and the second flying from tree to tree checking them out.  Not sure if they were hunting on scoping out territory.  Photos of one are a little iffy because it was still fairly shady.  The last tree where the one below flew was about the area where the nest was several years ago.






I went on to the park after these shots where I had an outstanding birding morning.  Nothing really out of the ordinary but lots of activity and some pretty decent duck shots.  There were Buffleheads, Mergansers, Grebes, Ringed- Necks, Mallards and the always Canada Geese out this morning.

 I have been having such a major flair up of carpal tunnel that I am limiting mouse use and keyboarding time until the inflammation chills out a bit so going through photos is a slow process right now.


And lastly, I found the link for the "EagleCam" at Jordan Lake which is in the next county over.    They had one last year in a little different format which I liked better.  It was fun to watch the young eagle chicks grow until they fledged.  The camera is active daylight hours eastern time.  There are two chicks in the nest now.

"This Bald Eagle Nest Camera is located on Jordan Lake near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, NC. It was set up last year as a joint project b/w NC State, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Maxim Intergrated Products, and Lineberger Tree Service."Lake Jordan Eagle Cam

Nature's Engineers

Back in October, the beavers began increasing the size of a small dam they had across a creek.  Steadily since then, the dam has increased in length as water routed around and they attempt to stop the flow.  By November, you could begin seeing a significant impact on the marsh area.  Previously dry areas were now flooded and more waterfowl were beginning to use the area.

I didn't visit the area much in December as I was travelling to other places.  Today was such a beautiful day I decided to go see how things had changed.  I took the small point and shoot to get a wide landscape shot but I think my card has gone bad as nothing was on it when I returned home.

I went back and looked at shots from Oct, Nov and compared to today.  Almost the entire back marsh is now flooded and work continues on the dam.  The difference was quite amazing to see.  The damming is changing the entire ecology of what was a marsh area.  The destructive nature of beavers is beginning to show with the loss of trees.  The small ones were the first to go but they have moved on to more impressive tree sizes.  I saw this one and had to wonder did the beaver just decide to call it quits on this tree?  Many more trees are being girded which I am sure will lead to their demise.

There were probably 10 mallards and a dozen Canada Geese that had taken up residence in the now flooded marsh.  Far back I could also see the Great Blue Heron wading.


  

Decoy Update

Update on progress of merganser decoy.  Going very slowly but I am trying to be careful.  One thing for sure, you can easily take wood off, you can't put it back on.  Months to go...unknown.  These are the photos from after class #3 and 4.

Monday night I started working on the head a bit.  Getting a little more duckish looking after each class.

Sunday at Home

It has been another dreary day with a chill that cuts through to the bone.  My only journey out was to pick up a couple of ingredients to make some suet cakes and a new thistle sock.  The finches swarmed in early and finished off what was left of one and I felt very bad as they would fly to the empty searching.

The last suet cakes I made I chopped some cranberries and blueberries very fine and mixed with some applesauce that I added to the mixture.  They all definitely like it.  Visitors on the suet feeder today have been Carolina Wrens, Bluebirds, Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmice, Downy WPs, B. Thrasher, WT Sparrows, Juncos,  finches (both gold and house), 1 male Purple Finch, 1 Brown Header and a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.  It has definitely been a hotspot of activity.
(and 1 Pine Warbler who has sat in a nearby tree and trilled away all day)

Within about five minutes of hanging up the new thistle sock the finches arrived.  Funny how you don't see them until you put out the food.  Most were willing to share a space on the sock with others but there was one that wanted to bully and fuss with any arriving finch.  This one stayed to the top and guarded his space. 

Sorry for the poor quality.  Dark day out and these were taken through the window so flash was not possible.

Gray Day

The weekend has arrived, it should be time to play,
but the gray, gloomy clouds won't go away.

A gray bird on a gray day,
sun come out so I can go play.