MISCELLANEOUS NOTICINGS

It was all misty on the pond this morning when I went out at 6:20ish.  Temperature was 36, and chilly!  I heard kingfishers, and red-winged blackbirds among the other regular yard birds that we hear in the morning. Watched a grackle gathering little twigs and young leaves, probably for nesting material. Also saw a muskrat. The mist was so think in some places that I could hardly see the other shore. The air is cold, but the water is warm (I've noticed that as I pick Water Chestnut nuts out of the pond!)
 

Sunrise through the mist on Stearns Mill Pond (unretouched photo with a Canon Powershot!)

The pond is getting a little bit scummy at this point; things are starting to grow and to float up from the bottom.  I've pulled out about a half bucketful of Water Chestnut nuts (seeds).  They are floating on top and I just grab them and dump them into the bucket.

Scum on pond

 
From last Friday's paddle:

The trees are blooming and hanging over the shore edge.  Pretty.
Geese are noisy, but I love watching them land in the water so smooth. Uh-oh. Two more geese are flying in and landing where the first one was. They don't seem happy that this first goose is in their territory. There's lots of honking and slapping of wings and flying at the intruder. I wonder if the two have a nest somewhere and are protecting it. I know there's a goose nest further upstream, near the mouth of the brook.

The water is low today that's not good.
Why is there an oil slick on the top of the water at our landing? 

Suzanne reports several sightings of a VERY large snapper near the shore and also some piles of shells.  I've seen both all white shells and the shells with purple, iridescent lining.  I'm not up on my shell animals, so I'm not sure what they are.  Could be piles left by muskrats or otter, or even a coon. 

But our pond is so beautiful!