Sunday, April 11, 2010

Serene Setting

Iowa highway 330 went from two to four lane several years back. This marsh was one among several created during road construction. Increasing the number and quality of water bodies for our feathered friends has certainly helped them to stay around longer locally.

I usually pass by this marsh once a week and say to myself - "Now why didn't you bring the camera?" Well,today was the day,there are always birds of interest in or around the water. The weather was fantastic! So, I stopped to catch some varied waterfowl species.

I am not an expert in waterfowl identification. I have tried to locate information on a couple of the birds seen bobbing in the water,but at this writing I am unable to name them. My lack of foresight in bringing binoculars has left me without sharp definition of the two sitting mid-picture. I assume one is a male duck because of his bright colors. The other partially covered by upright vegetation, appears to be in the duck family, sitting on a nest?



This little goose was sitting away from the more populated island, in the company of a Red-Winged Blackbird, who was also enjoying the wetland experience.

It was interesting that for the most part life went on while I was there...My presence wasn't that disturbing. I suppose with cars and trucks going by at all hours they have developed a tolerance for outside stimulus.

I plan to keep an eye on things to see if baby ducks and goslings will become an addition to this serene setting in the future. ;)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is fun to watch the migration come through. I believe we are nearing the tail end of it, though. Hopefully those birds will hang around and nest. The geese certainly will!

CDGardens said...

Yes, it has been a very good year for me to see the migration here. In 5 months we'll get the chance to see them start going the other way.

Oh my talk about geese sticking around... ;)

Anonymous said...

As I heard in a movie once "Life will find a Way".
Even with the construction of highways and such the wildlife will usually find a way to survive and flourish.

CDGardens said...

Rick Kratzke - Yes, given everything they need to survive they adapt to many scenarios. Life does have a way of just going on...

Anonymous said...

Interesting post and nice pictures. Thanks for sharing your field trip to the pond with us. One of the rights of the season is to enjoy everything that nature offers us.

CDGardens said...

Mel - Thanks! Sadie and I have been exploring since the weather change. A real joy to spend more time outside again

Marian Ann Love said...

Glad you took your camera with you...great pictures and almost like being there. I don't always take my camera with me when I go out and regret it everytime when I see something I want to take a picture of. Keep them coming! :)

CDGardens said...

Marian Love Phillips - I do understand about not remembering the camera. Now, I need to remember the field glasses. ;)

T.W. Warr said...

I enjoyed reading your article. It is nice to be able to watch nature progress from season to season. There seems to be a lot of growth and developement everywhere these days. It is good that the animals are able to endure these changes.

CDGardens said...

T.W. Warr - I gauge the progress of the seasons by what I see the animals doing.

If you get to watch generations of animals they adapt to changes in their surroundings. Outside interference only is such until they become used to it, then it is just another thing in their life and times. Familiarity lessens their fear.

Thanks for stopping by...