Our Sebastopol, California Pond's 21st year - 2016
Kathy's Bigsnest Wildlife Pond Diary
Winter 2016
January:
(click any image to see it expanded and/or enlarged)
|
We hadn't had a frost yet, so the pond still had some green growth above the waterline.
Below the pond image are some thumbnails of details that I really love about our 21-yr-old pond. Click on them to open an enlarged view.  |
The waterfall. The Redtwig Dogwood we've allowed to become a forest, the pond from the back, and the moss and roots that have totally naturalized the waterfall. |
| Our first pond visitor (that we noticed anyway) was this lovely Hermit Thrush.
Although it is a drab bird in some ways, it looked so gorgeous against the green moss around the pond so I hope you'll click on the image to see the whole view. It seems that sometimes the drabbest birds have the most beautiful voice. Although this one wasn't singing as it was winter, they sing for us all summer at our McCloud home so as I see it with my eyes, I hear it "in my mind"! Here's a link so you can here it too: Bird Song Link |
 .
. 
|
Other critters weren't visitors: while cleaning the pond I brought these up accidently. I took their pictures before returning
them to the pond. In order of appearance, these critters who LIVE IN the pond and couldn't survive without it are
1. Dragonfly nymph 2. Mayfly nymph 3. Backswimmer beetle
If you have a pond, you need to be aware of who lives there. Always check your skimming net before discarding the debris as that's where
these critters may live!
February:
(click any image to see it expanded and/or enlarged)
Still no frost by February 7th!! Still plant growth above the waterline!!
I recommend folks plant a tree or large shrub on the WEST side of their
pond to shade it in the hottest part of the day, but, this Port Orford Cedar is on the EAST side of the pond,
and as you could see in the top image on this 2016 pond page, it was growing out over the walkway and pond. Over the years we have
trimmed it back multiple times. It was time to do so again! We were brought this tree as a sapling by my brother and we love it,
but we do have to manage it.
The birds certainly didn't mind the more sunshine and here are images of House Finch and Pine Siskins. We don't get Siskins
every year, so this was a treat. There's also a Dark-eyed Junco showing if you click on the images. The birds enjoy the cup shape
of our waterfall boulder so much - their bathtub!!
By mid-February we had enuf cold weather that it was time to enter the pond and take out the dead matter before it decomposed
and became more bottom muck. I've found that an inverted plastic garage can lid floats well and makes a great collection
tub. When it's full, I call Dave over and float it to him to empty - always onto inverted wire over beach area so that critters
can wiggle their way back into the pond, and then he floats it back too me. If I'm lucky he doesn't try to splash me with it!!
On the 13th we had a great sunset and I was FINALLY able to record it reflected in the pond, sort of!
The weather was actually pretty mild, (one of the wonders of California!!) so we were able to entertain guests outside....both human and avian - Northern Mockingbirds
and a Band-tailed Pigeon.
Did you know that Band-tailed Pigeons can suck water up while other birds have to dip it into their
beaks and then lift their heads so it can pour down their throats? It's true! We were delighted to see this one as they are a species in decline here in Calif.
February ended with green growth sill on the pond, no freeze yet and the Magnolia was blooming. Would we go all winter without a frost????
