Valley Pond Townhome Association » Photos

And we have ducklings… It must be Spring!

Robbie Wigley — Tue, 17 May 2011 05:05:23 +0000

On Friday, May 13th I got this note from Earlyne and Gene alerting me to the baby ducks spotted on the pond. We have all been waiting for the first sighting but none of us expected this.

Hi-In case you haven’t heard or seen them, there are 14 hiding in the grass just west of Myron’s(NE corner of pond). It is not a good location, with people and dogs going by on the path. Arlene was on their deck when I walked by today and pointed out that the parents had led them across the path to a bush in their yard and were hiding there. We talked softly and suddenly they were running across to the west, back to the grasses.
Very cute and tiny. Of course, I didn’t have a camera or phone with me.

So when I spotted them on Saturday, I ran for my camera but was not fast enough. I finally got a shot of them on Sunday but they move so fast… it took 3 different times for me to get them actually in focus. We have counted as many as 24 and as few as 21, so that seems to be in the ball park as to the number. With a little research, Mallards don’t usually have this many in a brood, so she must have inherited a few from another mom, poor thing. They are never in line and seem to burst on the scene when they appear. We have seen two other momma ducks, one with 3 and another with 6 ducklings.

Griff did a blog about them on Locally Grown. Check it out.

Birds on the Pond

Robbie Wigley — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:35:18 +0000

I thought I would put together a group of photos I have been able to get of several birds visiting me this year. These are the times I wish I had a better camera and lenses. If you have pictures, please send them to add to this slide show. It would be good if you indicated what the bird is if it is not obvious, especially for those of us new to the bird watching scene.

Hawk

Robbie Wigley — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:54:10 +0000

I just about had a heart attack on Friday when this small hawk hit the windows in our living room. I have taken some precautions to make sure this doesn’t happen by putting stickers on all the surfaces of the bay window… but it didn’t seem to work for this little guy. All ended well as he did fly off and I can only hope he survived. I must admit I was ready to call someone to get some advice until he finally stood up. Here are some pictures, I know I probably will never be able to get this close to a hawk again and hopefully not under these circumstances. I think the conclusion on Facebook is that it is a Sharp-Shinned Hawk. You may have a different opinion. (and just in defense of myself… I took the pictures, even though it says Griff did… he just wants all the picture credit around here)

Photos: Harvest moon over Valley Pond

Griff Wigley — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:49:00 +0000

Photos: heavy rains fill the pond

Griff Wigley — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:44:00 +0000

Several inches of rain in the past two days have filled Hidden Valley Pond to the highest we’ve ever seen it… to the top of the stormwater pipe.

Goodbye to the Willow tree

Griff Wigley — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:37:00 +0000

With permission from the City of Northfield, a group of local lumberjacks took down the decaying Willow tree at the foot of the stormwater pipe at the southwest corner of the pond this week.

More than a few perfect summer days

Griff Wigley — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:19:00 +0000

Blue sky, spectacular clouds, a gorgeous pond. Are we lucky or what?

Photos: Barr Engineering surveyor

Griff Wigley — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:24:00 +0000

As Robbie wrote back in June,

The City has contracted with Barr Engineering to help the city develop a prioritization of stormwater ponds in need to dredging and other rehabilitation work to improve management of surface runoff.

A guy from Barr Engineering did his thing today.

Deer in Hidden Valley Park: getting closer

Griff Wigley — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:29:00 +0000

At about 9 am on Sunday, I saw this deer trot across Hidden Valley Dr. at Peterson Dr. and head into Hidden Valley Park, startling a couple who were walking their dogs.

Another gorgeous sunset

Griff Wigley — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:49:00 +0000

The big storms bypassed us on Thursday night, but they left behind another gorgeous sunset: