The unexpected return

We went by the pond frequently in the days that came, mostly hoping to catch sight of the geese and the goslings.  Some days we were lucky enough to get a glimpse of the family, but today was not one of them. Today as we walked by pond, feeling a bit deflated that we had not seen the goslings, we couldn't help but feel that we were being watched.  We glanced over at the thicket of bushes just past the pond and were surprised to find a pair of eyes looking back at us.  Standing every so silently in the thicket was a deer.  It's gentle face looked straight at us as if to ask if we had brought anything for it. It had been a few years since we had seen deer in the glen and their return was indeed unexpected. But it was spring and the season usually brought critters of all types to the glen, sometimes to nest or in search of food.  As we watched this doe, a slight rustling next to her brought into focus a second deer standing by her side. So the three of us watched the two of them until we turned to leave.  We hoped that they would stay hidden from view as the glen has not always been a safe place for the deer.

The sound of music

On many an occasion we would walk through the woods listening to the music of a song bird but never locating the origin of the sound.  Today, as we made our way through the glen, the sound of a song bird filled the air.  We stopped and listened to the happy chirping. We looked around but did not see anything but the chirping continued long enough for our eyes to adjust to our surroundings.  And, as we looked around scanning the trees for the source of the sound, we spotted a tiny wren perched upon a branch of a nearby tree.  Oblivious to our presence it continued it's lovely song, its joyful melody echoing after us as we made our way home.

Easter surprise

The geese together again

It was a few weeks after Easter that we got the biggest surprise of the spring.  We hadn't seen the goose much since our last sighting by the pool and had assumed that the goose had left the pond.  But, then, today as we walked by the pond we saw not one goose, but two, but wait there was more ... five more by our count ... five baby goslings.  It finally all made sense ... the geese had been nesting, now here they were with their new little family.  We were happy for the geese for this is the first time since we had known them that they had successfully nested. We left the pond excited to come back the next day.

...with five little goslings

The stuff of fairytales

The hollow tree

"The woods are full of the stuff of fairytales" Tinkerbelle said one day. We were walking through the woods as we usually do when she pointed to the hollow tree.  The hollow tree stands at the curve in the path that goes through the woods marking the half-way point. It's a stump of a tree really with holes covering the bark like yawing gateways into a mysterious world. Trees like the hollow tree are often cast as homes for woodland elves or other magical creatures.  "...Or like these fairy helmets" she continued, pointing to a cluster of Mycena growing around a tree stump. So named for their gray bell-shaped caps, fruit bodies of this type have often served as seating at many a fairy function.  "...Or these fly amanita toadstools...." she droned on, pointing to two bright red globes bursting through ground.  These are often extolled as the bounty of garden gnomes. "You just have to know where to look," she finished.

Fairy helmets

Fly amanita toadstools

The lonely goose

It was only the previous day that we had discovered the goose alone at the pond.  We had hoped that it would be okay without its mate and make its home among the ducks, but what we saw today made us doubt those plans.  We were on our way home from our afternoon walk and taking a shortcut through a neighboring complex when we came upon the strangest sight.  As we passed the pool area we caught a glimpse of a goose standing by the edge of the empty pool. Most pools open on Memorial Day weekend and since we were still a few weeks away, this pool was uncovered but had yet to be filled. We assumed the goose was the same one we had seen at the pond yesterday.  And as we watched it, we wondered what was going though its mind. Was it possible that it had gone mad with grief at the loss of its mate? Or was it just hoping for a swim in the pool? Regardless, the sight left us unsettled.  We left the goose staring into the abyss and headed to the pond. We wanted to be sure it was the same goose. At the pond, we saw only the ducks and so assumed it was the same goose. What would become of this grief stricken goose? we wondered.

Duck duck goose

Although we walk by the pond almost daily, it had been some time since we had stopped to visit its inhabitants. We did today but something didn't seem quite right.  The ducks all seemed fine milling together in their usual way, but it was the geese that caught out attention.  Or rather, the goose, for there was only one to be seen swimming alone in the pond.  We scanned the pond and the banks but there was no sign of its mate. Having never seen the pair apart, our hearts immediately sank.  What had become of the other goose? Had she or he (as we couldn't tell them apart) succumbed to an illness or infection or had they become victim to an animal. Worry took hold as we wondered about the fate of the missing goose.  But, the goose in the pond seemed not so worried.  In fact, it swam around serenely coming ashore to nibble on some food with the ducks. It seemed quite at peace, not lost or forlorn as we might have expected. We watched it for a while, then resolving to stop by again soon, we left.

The albino tree

We were walking through the woods today when we spotted the albino tree. Spring has sprung and the leaves on the trees have only just started coming in. It's white bark reflecting the morning sun drew our gaze. It's bark tall and thin, the tree stood white and bright among its darker brethren. We wondered why we hadn't notice it before. Since it stood on the other side of the stream we couldn't get a closer look at it, but thought that it most likely to be a white birch.

A very muddy Topsie

With the onset of spring came the rains, our walks were shorter since neither Topsie nor I care much for walks in the rain. But, today, the sky was clear as we set off on our walk.  The ground was still wet and puddles of water gathered at every corner. We were trotting along when suddenly, without warning, Topsie flopped down in a muddy puddle and started rolling around. It didn't take long for Topsie to end up covered in mud. Wet and muddy she had to walk the rest of the way home and straight into the bathtub!

The signs of spring

The pairing

The robins return

The grass starts growing

One sure sign that spring is on its way is "the pairing."  The pairing is most apparent among all the birds that suddenly appear in pairs.  The geese, that had arrived earlier this year, were frequently sighted waddling around together perhaps looking for a place to build a nest.  The ducks too are notorious for pairing up sidling off in twos to paddle in secluded areas of the stream. The sudden influx of robins is another sure sign that spring is on its way in. Although the robins began emerging in late winter, they seemed to be everywhere by early spring. Bright and alert they are always a welcome sight. Other birds appear too all chirping loudly now that old man winter was on his way out. Then, of course, there are the flowers that cautiously open their petals to the rays of sunshine that stay longer and grow stronger with each passing day.  And so, with all these signs, spring made its way into calendar. 

The flowers 

Thistle

The brave little daffodils

One of the first signs that spring is on its way in, is the appearance of the daffodils. There are a few patches of daffodils along the trail and we always watch eagerly for them to emerge from their winter dormancy. And in their perennial fashion, they always do.  This year was no different despite the persistent winter.  The brave little daffodils made their appearance in early March emerging from the earth in bunches as if huddling together to protect themselves from the elements.  And although they endured a snowfall or two, or three ... they finally opened their pretty yellow blooms in mid-March celebrating the start of a long awaited spring.

The white forest

It's St. Patrick's Day and green is the color of the day
...in theory at least.  Anot
her snow has fallen but alas, all that might have been green is covered once again in white. Despite the deep snow, we ventured down the trail noticing how everything was blanketed in white. "The White Forest" Tinkerbelle called it, where everything is as pure as the driven snow. There was an unfamiliar hush about the woods as if the snow in blanketing the earth had smothered it of its voice.  Nothing moved and nothing sang. We trudged through the snow unaccustomed to this quiet world that despite its state of frozen stillness seemed cast in enchantment.

Ice bobbles

Playing in the snow does have one down-side ... the ice bobbles.  Ice bobbles are the clumps of ice and snow that form in fur covering the lower extremities.  Unfortunately for me, my curly fur makes me more susceptible to the ice bobbles. Topsie with her smooth thick fur is rarely afflicted with a case of the ice bobbles. Contracting a bout of the ice bobbles usually lands me in the bath tub because the only real way to remove the bobbles are to melt them in hot water.  So a soak in the tub was in order today.

Winter games

Tangled

It's early March and more snow has fallen.  By now, Topsie and I are use to trudging through snow on our daily walks. Some days it feels like a drag but perhaps we are becoming "snow pros" because today it felt like fun. Topsie, in particular, was feeling rambunctious and instigated the play. Growling and tussling we darted and dodged.  Around and around we went kicking up snow in all directions until Topsie got tangled in her leash. So we called a truce.  And, tired but happy we set off for home and a nice hot supper.

Homeward bound

Truce

If you can't beat it ...

The snow covered trail

Topsie sulked

...join it

As winter drags on, Topsie and I are getting decidedly weary of walks through the deep snow.  Topsie usually sulks at the sight of the snow covered trail. And today was no different as we  set off on our walk one afternoon. As the setting sun cast long shadows along our path, I tried to cheer up Topsie.  "If you can't beat it, join it" I said.  Topsie looked doubtful at this advice until I showed her what I meant by taking a roll in the snow.  Topsie got the idea and tried it herself.  "Hey, this isn't so bad" she yipped as she rolled around in the snow. And so it was that Topsie made her peace with the snow.

The hawk and the blackbirds

Clear blue skies  marked the day

The hawk landed in a tree to contemplate its defeat

It was one of those rare winter days with clear skies and rising
temps, so Tinkerbelle, Topsie and I set off for the park.  We had only just arrived when the sound of cawing filled the air.  We gazed skyward to an unusual sight.  Against the bright blue sky, we spotted the outspread wings of a gliding hawk and surrounding the hawk were three agitated blackbirds. The blackbirds, clearly distressed by the hawk's trespass over their territory, swarmed around it in an orchestrated assault. Relentlessly, they flapped and cawed at the hawk as they tried to drive it away.  Then, as we watched, they began to tire. First one, and then a second fell back,  leaving only the third and last blackbird to defend the territory.  As if it knew it was the last line of defense, it drove at the hawk with gusto driving it all the way across the street and only then did it fall back and retreat.  We stood mesmerized by this unfolding drama, remembering to pull out the camera just as the hawk landed a top a  tree to contemplate its defeat.

Where the robins go

A robin emerged from the woods

...and landed in our path 

then flew up onto a branch...

I've often wondered where the robins go for the winter.  They seem to be around until late fall then suddenly disappear only to re-appear at the first sign of spring. Conventional wisdom says that they fly south for the winter, but my canine wisdom tells me otherwise.  With the heavy snow falls lately, the robins have started to appear leading me to believe that they could not have flow south.  I suspect they gather deep in the woods where they wait out the winter. Their recent appearances coinciding with the heavy snow falls suggest that they have emerged from the woods in search of food. On our walk one morning, a robin flew down, landed in our path and would not move. We stopped and watched it as it watched us. Then it flew up onto a branch as we moved forward.

Early arrivals

The geese arrive early

The pond spa

Gathering with the ducks at the pond spa

A slight warm up has melted a corner of the pond and the ducks have found their way back.  Right where the stream flows into the pond the ice has melted forming a small spa ... a pond within the pond. But it wasn't the pond spa that surprised us this morning, or the fact that the ducks had returned, it was the sight of a pair of geese that left us speechless.  It is barely mid-February and the geese are back. They are most likely the same pair who stopped over in the fall.  Perhaps food was scarce where they had gone and they know that food is the one thing that is rarely in shortage at the pond. So, here they are, plodding over the frozen pond, mingling with the ducks, and most likely making plans for a nest in the spring.

Pretty in pink

Topsie with two pink bows

February brought with it another grooming day. While I put up my predictable objection, I couldn't help but notice that Topsie did not put up the same objection. In fact, much to my dismay, Topsie seemed to enjoy the attention from the groomers greeting them with kisses and wags. The
groomers in turn enjoy fussing over Topsie. It's no wonder that she came home with two pink bows in her hair.  She strutted around the rest of the day showing them off. I shall have to talk to her about the importance of taking a united stand against grooming day if we are ever to rid ourselves of this scourge.