Day 243: August 30th – Local ponds

Sunny, mid 80s, calm winds

       So often, we take the local environs for granted and rarely give them a second look.  Today, I visited a pond not more than a half mile from my home where I used to fish regularly as a young boy.  Crystal Lake was a bit more accessible back in those days and you could easily walk around much of the shoreline without worrying about the cars and trucks speeding by you within an arms reach.  Still, the area where we used to fish most often is still removed from the main road and is relatively peaceful.  I walked back to one of my favorite spots and located a pair of ducks on the far side of the lake.  They were in the shade and so far removed that I had difficulty identifying them until they took flight and flew not too far from my position.  A hen and a drake Wood duck did their quick fly-by before disappearing around the far end of the lake.  I don’t recall ever seeing Wood ducks here before, but as I said, I kind of ignored this little gem for some time now.

       I then travelled a couple of miles further south to Garrison’s Pond.  This pond is notoriously shallow and usually by mid-June is so weedy that you can barely get a canoe or kayak through the vegetation.  Still, there are always swans on the pond as long as there is open water.  Today was no exception to the rule.  At first, I spotted a pair of mutes.

       Shortly, there were joined by a lone juvenile.  In the early stages of development, the juveniles will have no knob so obvious on the head of the adults and the lores are feathered.  As winter approaches, however, the knob just begins to appear and the lores become naked, exposing dark skin.  On this young bird, you can see those characteristics just coming into being.  Also of note….there are two morphs in the juvenile stage – one rarely seen which is pure white and the second, gray as seen in this bird.  The young usually remain with both parents through the first winter.

       We will probably see these same birds around our area throughout the winter as they generally do not migrate further than necessary.  Once the waters of the pond freeze over, these birds will more than likely head over to the open waters of the Hudson, only a mile or less away. 

       Like the ponds, we sometimes take birds like the swans for granted and don’t take the time to really look at these regal birds.  It’s nice to take a moment and re-examine the beauty of nature that is close at hand.