Bona Dea Update

Bona Dea was sunny and a little warmer today, Thursday. The American Crows were flying about the park. Northern Cardinals were singing all over. Also were the Tufted Titmouse birds. Woodpeckers were heard pecking away in the distance. The Belted Kingfisher bird was on Waldon Pond trying to catch fish. Bullfrogs were out and jumping into the water when you went by. I fed the fish at the fish again and here is a photo of several of them going after the food. Also up the deer trail, there were Blue-gill fish spawning on their beds and a photo of a couple of them in their nest. In this area a Pileated Woodpecker pair flew close by and a photo of one on a dead tree. These are really big woodpeckers. Down by the old swinging bridge there was the family of Canadian Geese with 6 little ones. Then behind them was a family with of little one. This was the family that started out with 5. The funny thing is, when lone baby saw the babies of the other pair, it took off like crazy to join them and one of the parents of the 6 babies started pecking it. Then it stopped and let that lone baby join their babies. The parents of the lone baby just stood by and watched. Maybe the parents of the 6 now have 7. Did not see any snapper turtles there today. Will hope to see a big one on land there one of these days. But this was another Alligator day. It was at its sunning and sleeping location and some photos here of it on dry land. Then I went back to that area later and it had gone to the water and I went to my visiting location and it came over to visit me. A video in a later post of it coming over for the visit. It kept coming over and finally ended up at my feet. A photo here of me shooting straight down at it. Then it moved about 4 or 5 feet away and attacked some bedding Blue-gill fish and started swallowing them. A photo here showing the muddy water as it stirred up the water catching the fish. Then the other photos are of it taking off to its overnight spot as it was getting very late. A video showing sun on the water and it swimming over for the night. Also took a photo of a Dragonfly a female Common Baskettail.Then I finally had a chance to take a good photo of a Gray Squirrel that happened up on me not knowing I was there.