Like many people these days, we try to take daily walks around the neighborhood. Thankfully, only a short distance from my house is a pond, and for as long as Casa Brillig has been based in this town there’s been a pair of swans who call this pond home. A popular activity by local folks is to find where they’ve located that year’s nest, and then (from an appropriate distance long before social distancing was a catchphrase) to follow the swan cycle of life. Excited posts on social media abound: We found the nest location!!! … OMG eggs!!! … BABYSWANSSOCUTE!!!!!!!!! and so many pictures!
This year is no exception, and whether we’re taking solo walks or going together, K1 and I are checking daily. Yesterday, we walked towards the place you can see the nest and saw cygnets!!! Grab a tasty beverage and paddle across the story break for some slightly better closeups (apologies in advance, I didn’t have a Real Camera with a better lens. They’re still adorable!!).
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We could see four cygnets on this side of their parent (not sure whether this was Mom or Dad), and someone nearby said there were either two or three more on the other side. Hopefully we’ll see them on the water tomorrow and can count. Although I am SURE our town facebook community group can give me all the info complete with high-resolution amazing photos, I’m hoping to discover for myself. When nature is just a few yards away, I can forget the world as it is for a few minutes and focus on the sound of water, birds and a nonviral existence.
This is as closeup as my phone camera would get me. I’m amazed by the nest… a HUGE pile of water plants. I’m also glad this year’s nest is in such a secluded area of the pond — in prior years it’s been on the pond side closest to the main thoroughfare in town, and people would gather in large groups and bother the birds. Also glad there’s a barrier of fencing and plants between swans and I - in prior years there have been stories of people trying to get too close and being chased off. While I like Angry Birds, I don’t want to be threatened by THESE angry birds!
These aren’t the only wildlife that’s got a fan following in the places Casa Brillig lives. At K1’s alma mater (and where she’ll spend two more years earning her Master’s degree) there are two unofficial mascot species:
The first is apparently two separate animals known collectively as Quad Fox. They took up residence on campus and are followed by students and faculty alike! (While the linked article suggests they’ve moved on, sightings have been reported via a campus social media group as recently as yesterday!)
The second animal is definitely more than one individual, and are affectionately known as a groundbois. I admit I’ve gotten very strange looks when I point and go “Hey! Groundboi!” and am NOT in a population of fellow UR Yellowjackets.
Do you have celebrated local wildlife where you live? I’d love to hear about them in the comments, AFTER you first peruse the trio of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures. Thank you to BeninSC for the format assist!
Top Comments
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Top Mojo for yesterday, May 19th, 2019, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo. (We believe the issues of the past three days have been corrected! No reflection on Puddytat!)
Top Pictures
Top Pictures for May 18, 2020! Thanks so much, jotter!