Somewhere, approximately under "KS on the Keys", there is a "portal" (City of Ottawa terminology) that directs overflow water from the Sawmill Creek into the storm water settling ponds just west of South Keys Plaza. (The official plans say three ponds, but even City staff agree there are really four). There is another much smaller pond south of Hunt Club called the "Duck Pond", behind Produce Depot.
Walking west through the Trillium Line tunnel next to Walmart and the turning right brings you to the channel carrying the overflow. When the level is low the mallard ducks enjoy relaxing on a sandbar.
The channel, looking south and north from the small bridge going out towards the Airport Parkway
There are mallards, a few wood ducks and occasionally a merganser or two on the ponds. One female mallard had some quite young ducklings; a late brood, or a second clutch??
The vegetation had been growing very quickly and encroaching on some of the swallow nesting boxes someone placed along the pathway several years ago
But at least two of the boxes were still in active use. Presumably with second broods.
Incoming mum with a mayfly brunch and outgoing mum removing fecal matter from the nest.
A phoebe had been building a nest at the north end of the third pond in early May. A phoebe was still around in the same area this visit.
Not having my long lens I missed a presentable photo of a black-crowned night heron flying over quite high, but I did salvage a barely presentable record shot of an egret flying about in the ponds
Queen Anne's Lace lined the pathway in most places, aided and abetted by black-eyed susans.
A few samples of plants in bloom. (Scroll over for ID)
Queen Anne's Lace, opening bud to finishing blossom
daisy
baldder campion
fleabane
black-eyed susans
tansy
sowthistle
sowthistle clump
sowthistle clump growing tall
St John's wort
meadow buttercup
bird's foot trefoil
evening primrose
mullein
Canada thistle
Canada thistle clump
bull thistle stand
bull thistle
burdock
crown vetch
tufted vetch
wild bergamot
vipers bugloss
purple loosestrife
white sweet-clover
Milkweed (in bud)
chicory
Two blossoms looked a bit different: a green infused black-eyed susan and a Queen Anne's lace whose individual blooms were more spaced
Some of the vegetation had progressed to seed stage. (Scroll over for ID)
The smooth sumac was a new one to me
grapes
Maple seeds
staghorn sumac
staghorn sumac
smooth sumac
smooth sumac
milkweed seed pod
raspberries
alder
alder
elderberry
Canada thistle
Canada thistle
Staghorn and smooth sumac growing side by side
The dill plants were over 6 feet tall in some areas. One area was covered with 6-7 foot tall reed grass
There was a single Norway maple tree in amongst the the other trees. The colour pattern on the Norway maple stood out
The find of the morning was a hummingbird clearwing moth in amongst the wild bergamot
More insects (Scroll over for ID)
red-spotted admiral butterfly
hoverfly
hoverfly
hoverfly and bee
honey(?) bee
red-belted bumble bee
Japanese beetles
common red soldier beetle
(sprite?) damselfly
I almost missed the snail and the (quarter) inch worm on the daily blossoms
There were a few very large anthills, hidden in the deep grass, to be avoided. Insects had burrowed into the goldenrod stems and formed galls.
It had rained the evening before with no breeze overnight so there was an abundance of raindrops to soak the clothes and shoes
I'm of mixed minds on this photo. There were several snapping turtle nests that had been protected from predation. Yes it is difficult to hear that 99% of the eggs laid do not produce baby turtles that reach the water. Raccoons etc dig up the eggs, or herons, gulls grab the babies as they make their way to the water's edge.
But that is nature's way. The number of eggs laid/predated provide a balance in the number of snappers. More snappers mean less baby ducks . Do the nest protectors think their actions all the way through?
