"Out & About" Photo Blog: Oshawa Second Marsh <br/>March 9th, 2016

I went to the marsh yesterday, wondering if I'd see any early signs of spring.

The Chickadees & Nuthatches are still accepting handouts. Chickadees are quite predictable. They start by perching on a branch several feet away. Then they hop to closer & closer branches, before they come to your hand.

I tried a few one-handed shots. Their next step is to inspect you. Not sure what they're looking for.

Then they inspect the seeds to see which one they want. They then grab one and they're off in a flash of wings to a nearby branch to enjoy it, before they're back for another.

I usually let them eat from my hand for a bit, then put the rest of the seeds on the boardwalk. Usually I just take sunflower seeds. They show little interest in other seeds.

One of nature's abstracts.

At first glance it looked like a small flower. Of course it's just a fungus with a flowery look.

I thought I was going to be caught in the rain, but it only lasted a minute.

Just weird.

Woody Woodpecker or the Road-Runner?

Most wood-borer (or whatever) trails I've seen are usually random like this.

So this one surprised me. Could they be Emerald Ash Borer trails and their exit holes? The EABs are the ones that are decimating North America's Ash trees.

The channel by the berm is just starting to open. It'll be awhile before we can expect to see the turtles. But if the mild weather holds, maybe it'll sooner, rather than later.

Some Hooded Mergansers in the bay... Thanks John.

On some cue, known only to them, they all took off together, to head who knows where.

Where Farewell Creek enters Lake Ontario, this pair of Trumpeter Swans were enjoying some quiet time. The Mutes (orange beaks) are more common but there always a few Trumpeters around.

After relaxing on the sandbar for awhile, they went for a very brief swim in the creek. A fisherman nearby (he was only about 30 feet from the swans) said they approach now & then hoping you have some food for them.

Then back on the sandbar again. If I'd waited another 2 minutes, I may have captured a couple shots of them in flight, as I heard them chatter behind me, and saw them head out onto the lake.

The lakeshore is a popular spot for teenagers (my guess) when they're out doing their thing. At night I assume. I never see any when I'm there in the daylight. I think they just light the logs on fire instead of gathering branches.

Then again, maybe it's just fishermen trying to keep warm.

This pale green lichen (Thanks John) is on quite a few trees in the marsh. It stands out.

Odd things I haven't seen before catch my eye. On checking it out, the black lines are some sort of plant root or whatever. Moss root maybe? The leaves at the bottom look like new growth.