Three Swans A'Swimming ~ Lake Ontario, Port Credit
After admiring the rhodos, which were positively alive with busy bees delirious for their sweet, sweet pollen, we walked over the hill and down to the lake (Ontario), where a calm lake made for wonderful swan and geese pics, including this mama below, with her half-dozen goslings.
In the pic above, you can see how clear the water is, testament to the calm weather of the past few days. The mommy goose was a lot calmer, too, as the goslings are getting bigger and must not be quite the worry for her that they were a few weeks ago.
Though the mommy seemed a lot less en garde than before, her neck kept craning like a periscope, always on the look out for any threat to her babies. Satisfied there was none, she'd dip her beak into the waves and find something to nibble on.
After bobbing in the gentle waters for some minutes, the goose and babies came ashore to waddle across the gravelly beach. These goslings seemed not to notice me, my friends, or the two women who were dropping occasional crumbs onto the pebbles. You can see why a predator would have an easy snack of these carefree darlings!
The foraging goslings came up almost to my shoes, and never paid me any mind at all. Had I any bird food to offer them, I am sure they'd have eaten from my hand.
Here is one of the pics I took before going to the lake to see the swans, and geese. The rhodos are just coming into flower, and over the coming weeks, should give a good show. No idea how long our goslings will be with us, but I intend to visit often and keep an eye on all my lovely things here in the park!
More goslings, etc here and rhodos here
and see also the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens blog.
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Update: May 14. 2009
Last night just as the sun was setting, around 8 p.m., I came across the mommy and her babies nibbling on the lush new grass alongside the Waterfront Trail east of the footbridge closest to the Lake. The goslings are growing so fast!
7 comments:
Oh.. that is such a nice post
Love the pictures
Boise Homes
Thanks so much!
I was very lucky to get these pics yesterday, as when I went again today, the goose and goslings were gone, and the waves were fairly forceful.
Lake Ontario is always a lovely experience at any time of the day. I love this place. Thank u for nice pictures.
Allen,
I love it too! This part of Mississauga has to be the best place to live if you like trails, parks, wildlife, the lake and river, and village life.
And with the Lake dominating the south view, at night, we can see the stars!
I've been seeing a LOT of birds and wildlife this month at various parks throughout Mississauga.
On Lake Wabukayne (NE corner of Glen Erin/Windwood Dr. behind condo and school) at the moment, 13 tiny ducklings with mom and dad Mallard.
I sighted the ducklings at the West end of the lake, right by the wooden dock/outlook on South side of lake.
The ducklings are so tiny and swimming so hard trying to keep up with the parents. Unfortunately, I don't have a camera so no pics.
There's a Free BBQ, lake tour, etc. at Lake Wabukayne this Saturday (May 30th) from 10am-1pm that I'm hoping to attend - hopefully the weather will be good!
Riverwood Park, Erindale Park and Rattray Marsh have been really great this month too!
Jo-Anne
Hi Jo-Anne,
Thanks for letting us know about the large mallard family!
I hope to get out to some of the parks this weekend, too - maybe even up to Meadowvale tomorrow for the tour at the lake.
Thanks again!
Karen
Hi Karen. No problem! :)
Tomorrow (Saturday), I will be at Lake W. - can't say No to free food. Ha Ha! :D
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