Day 117

April 27, 2021

https://www.dinastander.com/post/in-like-a-lion

 I can't figure out how to post this on the blog, but it's worth going to the link.  I wake up to a lot of Dina's posts and it starts my day on the right foot.  She is thoughtful and compassionate and thorough.

I was awake during the night and I got up just as the sunrise began.  It was stunning.  I took these with my phone through a window, but I still like them.  

Didn't make it to the rookery until about 5 today, just short of feeding time.  It was 70 up there, pretty sunny and calm.  One of the neighbors was kayaking and that caused some ruffled feathers, but ruffled feathers are more interesting photos.

A bald eagle visited us today and shook up the ducks a little.  They all disappeared.  The otter appeared, too.  Second day in which I only saw one otter.  Does the female stay in the nest if there are babies?  Is it possible that the otters have babies?  

I figure the first heron babies will appear in the next 2 to 3 weeks.  Reading my journal from last summer it is clear that July seems to be the busiest month for the herons. 

Went over to the college to watch the sunset which was very different than the sunrise.  The grounds of the college were covered with birds, starlings mainly.  The flooding has pulled back off the side of the road, but I couldn't see any ducks.  

I started working back at GCC in 2004.  EJ was three and their favorite thing to do was to go look at the ducks.  By the time they were 5 they were taking pictures of the ducks.  The duck pond has been done over entirely, it no longer houses loads of ducks and some geese.  I'm interested to see what the new open design of the area ends out looking like.  I miss the old space and the tiny kids gathered around.