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Index of Subjects Patricia, Thanks so much for your brief personal essay, which truly draws us into your time by Frog Pond. Sometimes it's enjoyable to read a detailed dramatic, descriptive account (which of course takes time to write) rather than just a list of sightings (which has its own kind of value). Good health to you -- Brian -------------------------------------------------- From: "P.L. Chalmers" <plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca> Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 10:29 PM To: "NatureNS" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> Subject: [NatureNS] Frog Pond, Jollimore, HRM > On Saturday evening the sun came out, unexpectedly, after an overcast and > muggy afternoon that threatened rain. I have a bad case of "cabin fever", > as I have been ill for some time and have not been out enjoying the summer > much at all. So I seized the moment and thought that at least I could > walk part way around the Frog Pond (in Fleming Park, HRM) to see how the > season was advancing. It's one of my favourite places but I haven't been > there for a couple of months. > > At the entrance to the trail a squirrel was eating Indian Pear fruits - > both nutrition and moisture after a warm day. There didn't seem to be > much bird activity, although I thought it might soon pick up in the cool > of the evening. I didn't want to walk far, so after the first boardwalk I > decided to find a quiet place along the shore to just sit and watch. > Green Frogs were making their twanging banjo-string calls. There was an > immature Great Blue Heron out on the rocks; they often show up here in > mid/late summer. A pair of Ring-necked Ducks was unexpected; a few come > here in migration, but this seemed early. Surely they haven't been here > all season? I sat and watched for about half an hour, hoping for Chimney > Swifts or swallows over the water, but instead got to watch a pair of > noisy Osprey calling and circling. > > The cove where I sat has lots of water lilies in bloom, and in past years > I would often see Beavers here, sitting up on the rocks and eating lily > roots. However there have been no Beavers in the Frog Pond for the last > two years - I don't know what has happened to them. > > At about 8 o'clock, just as I was thinking I should head home, I saw from > the corner of my eye a large bird fly into a clump of maples about 12-15 > feet away from me, and land about 12 feet up. A Barred Owl! It looked me > over and I tried not to stare, so looked away after a moment. I have > often seen Barred Owls, but never one so close, in daylight. It seemed > unconcerned by my presence, but was very interested in the people who were > passing along the trail right below it. It was interesting to watch its > head swivel as it turned to catch the high-pitched voices of children. Am > I imaging things or was it particularly interested in a small dog? Most > of the passers-by walked underneath it without seeing the owl - so few > people look up when they are outside. > > The owl was perched where it could observe a shallow muddy inlet where > some Green Frogs were calling; I hoped I would see it try to catch one. A > couple of times a Robin would fly by and suddenly throw a panic attack > when it saw the owl. I remained sitting for another half hour, enjoying > the owl's presence; when I left it silently watched me go. > > Patricia L. Chalmers > Halifax > >
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