Cool Universe

Cool Universe

Take it Outside!

Walk Diary: Chipmunks and Geese

Wednesday morning, 5/19 – Overcast, ground wet.

Eight bachelor mallards sported about the pond, the largest number that I have seen in weeks, but I was rather hoping to see a duck family. As the month winds down, it seems less likely.

Coming down the hill, in the cleft of a double-trunked tree, a chipmunk sat. We looked at each other in surprise for a second or so before he scurried away, to seek his privacy. Last week I saw my first of these little guys, which existed in such amazing numbers here last summer.

A couple of crows that were making a racket on my first pass were still at it. The pair was in a tall maple, several yards off the walk. I suspected that, as usual with such a ruckus, they were harrying some poor hawk. Stopping to observe, it appeared there were still only two big mouths, not the crowd a hawk-chasing usually draws. One of the two repeatedly launched itself, wings flapping, toward the other, which held its branch. I guess, this was a personal dispute.

Thursday morning, 5/20 – Sun / cloud - ground damp - cool.

A pair of mallards cosied up to the edge of the small pond as I walked in. They were very close to the walk and perfectly quiet. I might have completely missed them, if my eyes hadn’t caught the green sheen of that handsome male. A more rare encounter awaited as I came to the spot where the lower loop cuts in. A majestic, red-tailed hawk sat on a branch, his dark brown back to me. I kept my pace and path constant. Hearing my approach, he turned his head to look at me, then spread those huge wings and moved into another tree, a little higher up, still on the path. I feasted my eyes on the tawny hunter and hoped he’d tolerate my gaze, but no. He took himself off into the trees, toward the water.

On the walk out, I encountered another chipmunk, this one sitting on a branch beside a pine tree. It appeared to be eating something and not at all nervous. I slowed to take a good look, exchange a wordless good-morning and continued on my way.

At the park gate were two young women, one with a toddler, the other holding a leash attached to a thin, tall, buff-colored dog with a very long snout. I greeted them and the dog seemed curious about me. Getting an okay to approach the animal, I asked, “What kind of dog is it?” The short-haired woman who held the lead said it was a b-something and that they are sometimes called “vegetable hounds,” but I think it’s safe to say, I didn’t hear her right.

Friday morning, 5/21 – Sun - ground wet – getting warm.

I didn’t walk until 10 a.m., feeling a bit under the weather in the earlier hours. I expected the experience to be less pleasant, more crowded, fewer animals, but I was wrong. I encountered the usual number of humans (four to five), lots of singing birds, two chipmunks and the normal, infinite number of squirrels. What wasn’t normal was the young poplar tree that had fallen across the walkway, for no apparent reason. It was growing on flat ground, among other trees and appeared completely healthy, other than the fact it was horizontal. The ground must have been so wet by the daily rains, it is soft, and the trees roots must have run shallow. A shame. I wish I had rope to tie it back up on my first pass. On my return, someone had moved it, clearing about half of the walk. The city will probably just take it away.

Got my first positive ID on a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). I startled it on the ground and as it made for a pine tree, I saw its white rump. The real luck was that it landed near enough for me to observe its dark chest patch. Whether it was a yellow, or red-shafted variety, I’m not sure, as it is dark under the trees. This park is rich in woodpeckers!

Saturday morning, 5/22 – Overcast, showers– cool.

In the park before 6 a.m. and I did not have it to myself. A woman with a white, hooded parka was coaxing her rotweiller from the field as I entered. Next, I saw someone walking the grassy ridge at the edge the playing field, but that was it for a while. Though the weather lacked cheer, the birds didn’t. Robins were numerous and noisy, a chickadee called, woodpeckers hammered and chucked and starlings cackled. A catbird sat on a branch three feet from me and, unconcerned, sang his song.

Ducks are a trip. My first sighting was a quiet drake and hen sitting in the mud in the little cove across from Max-the-dog’s house. This may have been the same pair I saw on Thursday. As I passed on up the road, I heard noisy quacking and saw a duck coming in for a landing, somewhere near to the pair behind me. Another followed, and another, noisier still. With my ears, I followed the intensifying sound and could sense the ducks were aloft again and headed my way. I stopped a moment to enjoy the sight of this trio of mallards flying low over my head and toward the water.

I am concerned that I haven’t seen the family of Canada geese at all since last week.

Sunday morning, 7 a.m. 5/23 – Overcast – Ground wet – cool.

As I entered the park, two Canada geese greeted me, honking as they flapped close to the pond’s shore. I decided to walk down the pine-needle carpet to the water and search for those goslings. I was rewarded immediately, the family was there, up near the bridge over Armory Street. However, drastically reduced from that first count of seven, perhaps eight, young, I saw only four goslings today. Still, I’m happier for confirming the family is still around.

Wild things were quieter today than yesterday. It was wetter, too. Robins were all over the walk, gleaning whatever insects clung to the clumps of vegetation that lay all about. I slow down so as not to panic them.

A catbird was making its characteristic call from a branch near the ground. I was near enough to see the nicely-defined, black crest. This encounter caused me to reflect that the “cat” I swore I’ve been hearing around my yard the last couple of days, was quite possibly this bird.

Making my way up the far end of the walk, I spied a squirrel with a red tail, and not just that brown, which contrasts with a gray body. This tail looked really red, even under today’s gray skies.

At the opposite end of the park, now, and on the other side of the pond, near the street, I intended to walk to the water’s edge and search again for the geese. On a log sticking out of the water, sat a mallard duck, a handsome drake, staring out over the pond. I saw him at this same place yesterday morning, doing the same thing. I chose not to intrude on his privacy and continued quietly on my way.

For permission to use original Cool Universe content, please contact cmroane@cool-universe.com