Spring Happenings

Since we've had a dry winter here in San Diego, the spring blooms are not as abundant as usual, but i still have hope, we've received a little rain this past month or so and you know the old saying, 'April showers bring May flowers'.

Flowers or not, the geese at Lindo Lake pay no mind, it is after all that time of year and the geese have paired up and two pairs have actually laid eggs.

Below are the 'confirmed' pairs at Lindo Lake this year (more than any year before)  BUT i will say, just because these little beauties are paired off, doesn't mean they will be nesting.  Some mates are too young to start nesting, but that doesn't stop them from the territorial behaviour.

it's odd to use this photo of Fritz and Fiore while all the others have the males honking and being territorial.  Fritz is the most aggressive of the geese and i have personally witnessed him attack over a dozen people.  the thing is, when he is acting like that it is a wise decision on my part to NOT try to photograph him because if i take my eyes off him for one second, i just might get nipped :)

in this photo Nancy is trying to break the little branch in front of her so she could build up her nest. realizing this would take her a long time (time away from her nest) i chose to take the branch and break it up for her. she politely took the sticks from me and placed them in her nest.

Ruby has chosen a great spot to nest, plenty of coverage and privacy, only problem is, as of yesterday, she still had no eggs.  BUT Fiore was doing the same thing for about 5 days and now the little mama has her own clutch:

It seems each day i arrive at Lindo Lake when Nancy sees me, she honks to Sunshine, stands up, covers her eggs with down and runs over to me for seed.  that just never gets old.

There is however a downside of leaving the nest....down covered feet.

This little Mallard has positioned her nest right near Fritz and Fiore.  I doubt she realized at the time, but that is the safest place to be.  If anyone or anything comes near the area, Fritz chases them off.  She's pretty well hidden, getting a photo of her and her eggs (below) proved to be challenging.

I had to include a photo of these two, whatever Fritz does not eat, they will help themselves to the leftovers.

this photo is not so great, but i had to share it.  this Great Egret was diligently building her nest, all the while displaying her courtship plumage.

These are the first babies of the year.  I think they were born either March 29th or 30th.  I had heard they were around, but i wasn't able to see them until April 2nd.  There is just nothing cuter than a sweet little brood of babies.