Wednesday, April 28, 2010

New Arrivals

The nesting geese had taken their station beneath our satellite dish a few weeks ago, as they did last year. This morning we had a dusting of frost on the ground and, on her morning rounds, my wife saw a most unusual sight. Both geese were on the nest! We mulled this development over coffee and wondered if it was a two goose morning, in terms of keeping the eggs warm--though we'd never heard of such a thing--we were always told females did all the sitting. When we went back to check, we found we were only part right. The eggs had hatched, and both geese were now quite busy herding little fuzz balls about. Earlier the goslings must have been under both sets of wings. So now we have four goslings and one forlorn unhatched egg with a hole in it. We'll try to get some pictures when they are less skittish.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Spring has Sprung
































Admittedly this is the veriest beginning. Not much evidence as yet. But we've had our first warm days and the trees and flowers fell for it--as did we. As soon as we'd removed the storm windows upstairs and the blanket from the bed--in came another cold snap. Still, we submit to you incontrovertible evidence that spring is here.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Sandhill Cranes


The sandhill cranes have been more present than ever this season on Manitou. They sound so much like baby racoons, that it takes some detective work. In both instances, the sound seems to come at you from all sides at once. Some times the best thing you can do is look straight up--and very high up at that. You might be graced with the sight of a flock all at once.


Just a few days ago we had our first experience with cranes at low altitude. Two pairs came swooping low over our roof, flying from the north, toward the marsh past the Anderson place on the south shore. It is so hard to believe that something that breathtakingly big can fly at all! They made no sound, but what a sight! I have included one of Mike Kennys great Rochester Sentinel photographs. The big guys are too quick for me--I don't know how Mike does it.