Goosie with a boo boo

Our Egyptian goose pair, Tony and Cleo, has spent virtually all day in the backyard for the last two days.  They showed up early for breakfast and then I don't think they ever left.  Instead I think they just spent time down at the beach and exploring all over the backyard.  I've been noticing that Cleo has on and off been favoring her left leg and she was doing it again today.  She stands on one leg for long periods of time.  But when she walks she doesn't seem to limp much, if at all.  I'm not really sure if she's injured or just has some discomfort or likes to stand that way.

It hurts, but I'm not complaining.

We like this whole backyard.  (That's Tony in the front.)

Several turtles of different species were out together on the canal bank across from the backyard enjoying the warm sun.  They come out more in the fall and winter as the air and water starts to cool.  One in particular really seemed to love the warmth on his face.

Sun worshipper

The ibis that thinks he's a duck was back yesterday.  He approached a number of different mottled ducks but none of them were the least bit interested in him so he continued to look sad.  He really needs to rejoin the flock of ibis and give up this misguided species identification thing that he has going on.  He would be a whole lot happier.

Will you be my friend?

A tricolor heron watched with interest from the dock post as I fed the fish today.  It was as if he couldn't decide if he could eat those bigger fish or if he would have to stick with the little minnow-sized ones.  He moved off the post to the canal edge to get a better look.  Then he returned o the dock post when it became clear that these fish were just too much for him.  Ani the anhinga just sat and watched him watching the fish.  They aren't too much for her!   Yesterday a pair of tricolors made a brief stop on the tree near the dock and then flew off.  It's nice to see a pair of them.

When the tricolor vacated her favorite spot, Ani took it over again.

I love this spot

The juvenile gallinule has finally started getting his red face plate and soon I won't be able to distinguish him from the other two around the dock, though he tends to be much shyer than the others.

Growing up and showing his colors

When it comes to the Muscovy ducks, the crowd varies considerably from day to day and time to time.  Female Cutie2 is here most mornings and evenings.  I wonder where she lives now but I don't think she has another nest to replace the one she abandoned after it was attacked.  I candled the 8 eggs that I rescued from her nest and that I am trying to incubate.  A few look viable in my inexpert opinion.  Several look like nothing is in them which means they were never fertilized and some are questionable.  It might still be too early to get a good reading so I will check next week to get a better idea.  To candle them I shone a bright LED flashlight beam through them in a dark room and looked for something darkish in them or for blood vessels forming.

Female Cutie Tips and several of the harem girls are around regularly, and Chirpie came by yesterday morning.  Males Blanco, Big Boy, Lazlo, the handsome guy, Freckles and the new guy are around also.  Black Foot and Red Eye were not, though.  Mom and the juveniles make a daily visit, sometimes in the morning and sometimes at midday.

Two curious siblings

The newest male Muscovy is looking good and has been around daily for a few days now.

Yes, I'm good looking

Blanco mated with Chirpie this evening and she seemed accepting of it up to the point when she scooted way.  Maybe she will come with new babies one of these days.  It was sad that she lost all 5 of her last clutch.

Blanco wants to be a daddy

Female Muscovy Pretty Girl returned this evening after a long absence of several weeks.  She looked a mess and is clearly molting big-time.  I almost didn't recognize her but there is no mistaking her beautiful eyes once you get a close look.  I wonder where she has been.  I thought she might have a nest that had hatched and she was waiting for the right time to bring the babies to the backyard but now I don't think so.  It could be that she is not able to fly well because of the molting.  Anyway, she seemed very hungry and ate a lot.

Call duck Colson is still coming with a troop of mottled ducks.  And he still has it in for one big Muscovy male, the handsome one.  He chases him out of the backyard every time he sees him.  It continues to amuse me that such a little guy can roust out a huge Muscovy.

An egret stopped by our side of the canal bank today.  The pigeon was also in the backyard today and I saw the grebe in the canal so it looks like it's staying for the season.  There have been more and more grackles at the feeder so it empties quicker.  It's a sign of things to come.  The grackles, and other bigger birds like the doves, prefer the tray feeder as they can't really navigate the tube feeder very well.  The tube feeder stays full longer and attracts mostly the cardinals, blue jays, red-winged blackbirds and other smaller visitors.  The red-winged blackbirds, both males and females, have been visiting in force lately and they can be heard chirping noisily on the tree by the dock.

That big katydid that was on the pool screen the other day was still there yesterday but I noticed that it seemed to have pieces of a spider web stuck to it and I wondered if it was alive.  I got my answer today when I found it dead and floating in the pool.

Finally as the day ended, I saw a solid black cat prowling in the grass across the canal.  I've been seeing more cats over there than in the backyard.