Monday 9 May 2016

Things are really hopping!

Yay, Spring. The frog pond is a teeming, busy place. Daisy and I go down and sit. last night the temperature went down to 0 C., mind you. The May sun will warm things up, though.

Before I went down, I watched hubby with 'Lil Orphan Annie', who appears to have a tumour on her face. He could empathise!

As I approached the pond, I spotted a male Wood duck. I told Daisy to slow down to let me grab a photo before she rushed onto her dock. She did! She loves the dock, she lets me know when she sees something. She'll suddenly sit up, and stare. Eagle-eyed Daisy spotted some snakes on the fallen tree.
 

The first adult bullfrog I've seen all year. The lone Chorus frog continues to sing. This water snake sat and watched me carefully.


There were, at least, 3 water snakes. I couldn't help but feel some heebee-jeebies, with the sound track of Jaws running through my mind as this one approached me. I was sitting on the dock, with the zoom lens, HOWEVER!


I spotted a tadpole, and the water striders are out. Then, a red eft in the water. These are the juvenile stage of the Eastern newt.

Red eft, found in a previous year, 2012, in the veggie garden! Red Eft in the garden and pond It is a teenager!

Back up at the house, hubby was back from a 'beer run.'

Bleeding hearts are blooming, as is my Orchid cactus. I can expect a dozen blooms. I put it outside for the hummingbird, which should be here any moment.


And more signs of spring...

11 comments:

Debbie said...

I'm happy to see we settled on a name, I must have missed that!! Everything is coming to life beautifully there!!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I love all the wildlife and the pretty flowers. Wonderful series of photos. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Such a beautiful Spring post Jenn. I adore Bleeding Heart -- just another Spring flower I never ever see any more. I'm always in awe over how much wonderful wildlife you have on your place. Envious of the wood duck, I just cannot ever ever spot one. Amazing how you've trained your cat to spot wildlife for you ;>)

Olga said...

Spring is definitely in the air!

Nancy J said...

And even though you had a very cold start to the day, it all looked mighty good to me. Love the swan babies, and everything else.

Kay said...

Aha! Spring has definitely sprung in your neck of the woods.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Oh yes the colours are a-poppin'! The Northern water snakes are pretty harmless I think... ??? YAM xx

William Kendall said...

The wood duck is my favourite.

Red said...

We are missing a number of amphibians and reptiles that you have. we only have the odd garter snake. We don't have bullfrogs. Nice stroll through the property and report on the critters.

Anvilcloud said...

Annie seems very tame.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Those water snakes are totally creepy!