New arrivals

Yesterday, 5 goslings appeared on the scene, flanked by their protective parents. This is a smaller hatch than last year, when the pair that lives in the pond at the other end of the green space fledged 11. But, this year, at least one egg was taken by a predator (Abe and I found the shell a couple weeks ago) and perhaps more were taken as well. I found this darling picture of goslings here.

I strolled down last night hoping to get a closer look, but the family hid in the reeds, with the youngsters behind the adults. I'm sure we'll get see lots of them this summer as they get older and more adventurous and as the adults get less wary. Two other pair live in the larger pond but we haven't seen their nests. Likely there will be more newcomers over the next several weeks.