Nesting Birds at Lion’s Pond

 Great Blue Heron 6-28-13

From the first day I arrived in Colchester until the last I made several visits to Lion’s Pond. Located on Halls Hill Road across from the elementary school, it is a great place to take a quick break and watch birds.

There is a small parking lot on one side of the pond and beyond the pond lies an inaccessible bog. Often there is a great blue heron perched on a snag in the bog, though sometimes it is hunting or sunning on the near shore. There would be no sunning on this day as it was wet, gray, and dreary. The heron was on the shore when I arrived, but quickly flew to its favorite perch. Can you see it in this photo?

Here is a close-up of the bedraggled bird. Believe me, I felt almost the same way!

A family of geese was nesting here again this year.

I kept watching a pair of orioles fly in and out of this maple tree at the edge of the pond near the parking lot. When I saw one of the parents fly out and drop a fecal sac over the water I decided to take a closer look.

Can you see the nest?

Here’s a closer look with momma bird’s hind end sticking out!

She popped out to check on me and see what I was up too!

In the top of this same tree I also spotted a pair of nesting Eastern Kingbirds! I don’t have any pictures of their nest. It was too high up and obscured by leaves.

Many mornings I would get my coffee and sit at these tables to relax and watch birds. Lion’s Pond is also a fishing pond, and in the winter it is used for skating. If you are an eBirder, it is also an eBird Hotspot. So, if you are ever in Colchester, grab a coffee and come sit a spell. It’s a tiny bit of nature in my hometown!

Perhaps the guardian of the pond will be there waiting for you!

Note: I will have more photos of Lion’s Pond and the Goose Family to post later. These pictures were taken at the end of the month of June and the end of my visit. More photos and stories to come and a mystery to solve!