Nesting Update #2

 

Male Canada Goose (Father to be)

 

Time For A Drink In Between Activities

 

Female Canada Goose (Nesting)

 

I discovered that this pair of Canada Geese have a nest on the same rock island as the pair of Mute Swans.

This makes for a very interesting situation. Both the Geese and the Swans are very territorial and protective of their families.

The Swans nest is in the middle of the rock island and the goose nest is on the left side near the edge of the island.

 

 

Here are the Mute Swans

 

 

Here are the expectant fathers too be, hanging out so to speak. This is a daily occurrence. I try to go down every second night or so after work to check up on these guys and see what’s new. I am really hoping to see some little baby geese and swans in the near future and hope they all survive.

 

 

 

It appears they like to jog on water. The responsibilities of fatherhood can be very stressful at times.

Maybe this helps them burn off some of that stress. :)

Boys will be boys. Ha!

 

 

I couldn’t believe my eyes, what I was seeing. Wow! I was in '”Awe”. I have never seen anything like this before and I was in the right place at the right time with my 170-500 lens.  The swan is chasing the goose out of his territory, and is very protective of his family. So is the Canada Goose but he is no match for this big bird. I wouldn’t want to tangle with either of them. My advice is to stay away from their nests. I was not a threat to them, nor they to me, as I stood on shore witnessing this wonderful Nature Scene.

 

 

I cropped this photo to make it a little bigger.

 

 

No one was hurt in this encounter. This is not the first nor the last encounter these two will have. I took these photos yesterday , and I took more today which I will add in my next update. This picture is near the end of the chase.

 

 

 

The Stare Down

 

I took this photo at the end of the chase and these two beautiful birds are about 30ft away from where I was standing on shore. They are use to people because some people feed them. I don’t. They will not bother you if you respect them and their territory. Nature is to be respected, at least it should be.

I called this last photo, “ The Stare Down”, because that is exactly what they are doing.  After the chase they both decided to have a rest and just ignored each other. It sort of reminded me of a Looney Tunes Cartoon. I did laugh many times as I watched these two.

It usually takes Canada Geese about 28 days before they hatch their eggs and they can have between 3 –8 baby chicks.

It usually takes the swans about 35 days and they too can have from 4-8 young ones. I do hope they will all get along when they do have their young one. I will do my best to keep you updated .

I hope you have enjoyed these photos as much as I have enjoyed taking them.

God Bless each and every one of you and have a wonderful weekend . May is a wonderful time of the year so enjoy.

Hugs and Smiles

Dianne ( dsphotocats) :)

Nesting Time Is Here :)#1

 

Nesting Morning Dove

 

 

About a week ago I went for a long walk along the waterfront trail. I spotted a Red Winged Black Bird and decided to follow it into some bushes. It was then I came across something very special. I noticed this Beautiful Morning Dove sitting on her nest. I was very quiet and took a couple of pics , talked to her very softly , and left. I also said a prayer that no one would discover her and that she would remain safe.

A week later, which was yesterday afternoon , I went back to check on her and took this photo. Her mate had just left, so I know she is being taken care of and he must also be feeding her. I have never come across a nesting bird like this before. I have seen nests from a far distance but never so close as this.

I am hoping to be able to get back and check on her sometime this week after work. I am hoping to get a chance to see her chicks . I am assuming she is sitting on a few eggs and would love to see them. I will not put her in any danger and am extremely cautious so no one sees me near her nest. I wouldn’t want kids to discover her as she is only about 4 ft. off the ground. I will take a picture only if it is safe to do so. What a Blessing this has been for me to see .

 

 

Swan Nesting On A Little Rock Island Just Off The Bay Shore

 

There has also been a pair of swans nesting out on this little rock island and you can see it from the waterfront path. I took this photo a week ago while on my walk. I was standing on the edge of the shore when I took this picture at 28mm. I had a 28-300 lens on my camera. The water is really low this spring as you can see. Where I was standing usually has water. Again I just hope and pray no one disturbs the nest and boats stay clear. The male swan keeps a close eye and patrols the area and chases all the other birds out of their territory. I wouldn’t want to tangle with him. I saw him flying just above the service of the water chasing something out of his path a few weeks ago, but I didn’t have my camera with me. It was fun and amazing to watch him fly so low. I still have that image in my memory. :)

 

 

This photo was taken at 300mm. I was using a 28-300mm lens. I took this photo yesterday. I had biked down to the Bay with a back pact with my camera on my back.

 

 

I cropped the above photo so you could get a better look at this Beautiful Nesting Swan. I am really hoping to get a chance to get photos of the baby swans when they are born. I just hope that people don’t chase them away with their boats as their is a boat launch not very far away.

Well that is about it for now. I am working everyday, with no morning free this week, so I am hoping to have enough gas in my tank so to speak to get down there in the evening to check on my nesting birds. I am really excited to see some baby swans and doves real soon. If and when I do , you will be the first to know.

Hope you all have a great week whatever you do or don’t do.

Thinking of you and many of you are in my prayers.

Hugs and Smiles

Dianne :)