It took a long time for Spring to arrive here on Carillon Stonegate Pond. And before you knew it, our weather went from Spring back to Winter to Summer. But that’s the greater Chicago area for you.
But while we did have Spring, the wildlife came out to enjoy it!
Note: throughout this and other posts, I have provided links (Red) for each bird identified to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We contribute to the great work that the Cornell Lab does by providing a daily or periodic update survey of the birds appearing at Carillon Stonegate Pond through their eBird app.
We had visits from a variety of wildlife that make the wetlands and woodlands around Carillon Stonegate Pond their home. There was a group six deer that visited the pond every few days. A couple of coyotes appear now and then, but mainly make their presence deep in the woodlands through their howls.
From a birder perspective, the Springtime had its regulars, its typical migrating birds visiting our lovely pond and those truly unusual guests - either lost or doing a flyover.
The Carillon Stonegate Pond regulars began to make their appearances. Several times throughout each day, the pond will find a squadron of Tree Swallows - or “tie-fighters” or "Blue Angels" - soaring over and diving to the surface of the ponds. Fast. Acrobatic. Precision flying. Also, soaring over the ponds, you will find Red-tailed Hawks.
We are also frequented by a Double-crested Cormorant, multiple Mallards and Canada Geese. Our pond is also visited by Ring-necked Ducks and Pied-billed Grebe. Similar to cormorants, these birds dive under water to feed.
And speaking of diving birds, Caspian Terns frequent our ponds. These birds soar over the pond and crash downward into the water to capture its prey. This is truly a sight to observe.
We generally find Great Blue Heron and Great Egret arriving onto Carillon Stonegate Pond to walk the shoreline in search of food. Sometimes these great birds will spend an hour or more at the pond.
We - as others on the pond - keep several hummingbird feeders. And these never disappoint. We have a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. And new arrivals this year are a pair of Baltimore Orioles that feed at the feeders and are nesting across the pond. We have also seen a Downy Woodpecker this spring.
Life on Carillon Stonegate Pond also has its surprises. This spring we had a Bald Eagle do a flyover - so majestic in flight. We also had a visit for feeding at the pond from Sandhill Crane on its migration back up to Wisconsin - or badly missed turn west to Nebraska!
The variety of Life on Carillon Stonegate Ponds has been surprising. However, it speaks to the wonderful work done by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County who has responsibility for these ponds along with the Carillon at Stonegate community!
We will add updates to this blog throughout the year.
But while we did have Spring, the wildlife came out to enjoy it!
Note: throughout this and other posts, I have provided links (Red) for each bird identified to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We contribute to the great work that the Cornell Lab does by providing a daily or periodic update survey of the birds appearing at Carillon Stonegate Pond through their eBird app.
We had visits from a variety of wildlife that make the wetlands and woodlands around Carillon Stonegate Pond their home. There was a group six deer that visited the pond every few days. A couple of coyotes appear now and then, but mainly make their presence deep in the woodlands through their howls.
From a birder perspective, the Springtime had its regulars, its typical migrating birds visiting our lovely pond and those truly unusual guests - either lost or doing a flyover.
The Carillon Stonegate Pond regulars began to make their appearances. Several times throughout each day, the pond will find a squadron of Tree Swallows - or “tie-fighters” or "Blue Angels" - soaring over and diving to the surface of the ponds. Fast. Acrobatic. Precision flying. Also, soaring over the ponds, you will find Red-tailed Hawks.
We are also frequented by a Double-crested Cormorant, multiple Mallards and Canada Geese. Our pond is also visited by Ring-necked Ducks and Pied-billed Grebe. Similar to cormorants, these birds dive under water to feed.
And speaking of diving birds, Caspian Terns frequent our ponds. These birds soar over the pond and crash downward into the water to capture its prey. This is truly a sight to observe.
We generally find Great Blue Heron and Great Egret arriving onto Carillon Stonegate Pond to walk the shoreline in search of food. Sometimes these great birds will spend an hour or more at the pond.
We - as others on the pond - keep several hummingbird feeders. And these never disappoint. We have a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. And new arrivals this year are a pair of Baltimore Orioles that feed at the feeders and are nesting across the pond. We have also seen a Downy Woodpecker this spring.
Life on Carillon Stonegate Pond also has its surprises. This spring we had a Bald Eagle do a flyover - so majestic in flight. We also had a visit for feeding at the pond from Sandhill Crane on its migration back up to Wisconsin - or badly missed turn west to Nebraska!
The variety of Life on Carillon Stonegate Ponds has been surprising. However, it speaks to the wonderful work done by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County who has responsibility for these ponds along with the Carillon at Stonegate community!
We will add updates to this blog throughout the year.
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