With a nice small pond in front of the barn, I wonder if there have been ducks and geese visiting the inviting water this spring.
Barn Nestled Near Pond
Picture of the Day for April 4, 2015
When I was outside one day last week looking for any hint of some wildflower, a pair of ducks were circling to land in my pond but they spotted me and flew off. I didn’t recognize the smaller duck species as each spring I get some temporary visitors on their journey farther north. The next evening they did land in the pond but since it was so windy that day, they stayed hidden behind the long grass so I still couldn’t identify them
A couple of years ago, I did have some visiting Blue-winged Teal ducks stop over on their trek back from their winter stay in South America but since my pond is too small, they ventured elsewhere after a day of resting.
Pair of Blue-winged Teal Ducks
Picture of the Day for March 2, 2015
Meteorological spring started yesterday and even though it is sunny today, it definitely is not spring yet as the pond is frozen and no dragonflies buzzing around. And it won’t look or feel like spring the next few days with the predicted snow and below zero temperatures so winter hasn’t released its hold yet.
Brief Rest Stop for Dragonfly
Picture of the Day for February 17, 2015
The field is white, but not white with clovers or daisies since the brilliant white is provided by a layer of snow and ice reflecting the sun instead of open water on a very chilly morning.
Summertime Daisies
Picture of the Day for January 4, 2015
“On the Tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten Lords a-Leaping.” Only a man would think ten lords would be a great present, but not to a woman would have to wait on the lords serving them food and drinks. I don’t know what good ten lords would be other than blowing a lot of hot air around which might help warm up this very, very cold day. I figured lords fell in the category of slimy critters but that would insult frogs which are a better class than lords.
Ten Frogs a-Leaping
Picture of the Day for August 28, 2014
People in California felt the earth shake from the recent quake and I wonder how the earth would have rumbled when the prairie was filled with the great herds of buffalo which stretched for miles. It must have been a sight to see (from a far distance that is, as I wouldn’t want to be stepped on), although it might have been a little smelly with all those buffalo chips!
When the Buffalo Did Roam
Picture of the Day for August 16, 2014
When mowing by the pond, I normally scare some critter or bird as I near the banks. You can see the frogs jumping into the water, the Red-winged Blackbird flies out of the nest made in the cattails or even ducks or Green Heron takes flight. This week I was disturbing the dragonflies, which were busy in mating activities all around the pond. I believe these little dragonflies are called Autumn Meadowhawk, but I know wildflowers better than insects so they could be some other species.
Busy Dragonflies
Picture of the Day for June 30, 2014
It is raining again and I’m not sure even the frogs like all the rain as they have to build their burrow entrances higher so they don’t drown and then I clip the tops off when I mow the lawn.
I did decide if I enter a frog jumping contest, that I would enter a toad instead. The little toad doesn’t make the long leaps which a frog can do, but I figured I would win the contest if I played the sound a lawn mower at the starting line since the toads quickly bounce away from the mower but the frogs jump right towards the mower. And so my little toad would win the frog jumping contest!
Wet Frog
Picture of the Day for May 7, 2014
With a week without snow, the grass is finally starting to green up. And now if the temperature would warm up, you could spend a lazy afternoon at the pond listening to frogs and watching the dragonflies darting around.
Springtime at the Pond
Picture of the Day for April 21, 2014
According to the frogs, spring has finally arrived as they have been croaking up a storm. It is amazing how a tiny frog an inch long can make a noise that carries so far. I was expecting to find some big frogs making the ruckus down at the pond and it with so many singing, it was hard to find the individual noise makers, especially when I discovered most of them were little critters who double their width when they ‘croak’ and their vocal sac distends outward.
All the noise in the spring is to attract females and it is said that female frogs prefer males that produce sounds of greater intensity and lower frequency, attributes that stand out in a crowd. The rationale for this is thought to be that by demonstrating his prowess, the male shows his fitness to produce superior offspring. I heard a large range of sounds and some very high pitched ones that hurt my ears so hopefully the females will hurry up and pick their mate so the noise level goes down.
Click on the play button to hear the frog choir at the pond!
Noisy Frog
