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I snatched an hour from a busy day to walk around the Frog Pond in
Fleming Park, Jollimore, HRM late this afternoon (Saturday, 2
April). Given the cold winds and overcast skies, I didn't expect to
see much. However I haven't been there in months, and thought I
would see if I could detect any signs of spring.
There was a nice flock of Dark-eyed Juncos tending a garden with
feeders close to the park, together with Black-capped Chickadees,
Song Sparrows and a Mourning Dove. Not surprisingly, there were more
birds in those nearby gardens than there were in the woods around the
pond. However, a Robin was calling in an agitated way near the
entrance of the park, surely a new arrival. It was the only migrant
I detected; there were no Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds or Fox
Sparrows. The pond is open with just a few patches of ice in the
coves and marshy shallows. Only a few Black Ducks and Mallards were
on the pond - I had hoped for Ring-necked Ducks.
The plants offered more evidence of the season. The Speckled Alder
catkins have expanded and were showing some yellow, although not
actually shedding pollen yet, and I found one Coltsfoot plant in
bloom, the first I have seen this year.
As I left the park, I saw a Crow flying with a long trailing vine
(Virginia Creeper) in its beak. Finishing touches for a nest?
I checked out the Northwest Arm from the lower part of Fleming Park
('the Dingle") about 7:00 p.m. and was pleased to see two Horned
Grebes. They don't often come so far into the Arm, and indeed as I
watched they moved out towards the harbour mouth.
Patricia L. Chalmers
Halifax
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