February 16 – My Nature Journal
2026-02-16 Nature Journal
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Today, the Canada Geese around the lake were incredibly loud.
Courtship season starts for Canada Geese around February in my area, and the geese on the lake were ahonking and hinking at top volume the whole time I circled the lake.
Several geese had clearly paired up and staked out territory. While it’s impossible to tell male Canada Geese from females visually, their behavior during courtship season leaves no doubt about the sex of individual birds.
Male Canada Geese aggressively defend their mates and potential nesting sites against encroaching males. While males first try to warn off rivals by sounding loud, intimidating calls, they will absolutely fight physically if pressed.
I watched several fights between rival males on my circuit around the lake today.
Canada Geese are very large birds, with strong wings, and large, clawed feet. The males displayed impressive strength and willingness to fight; the fights were brief but serious and nothing I would want to get in the middle of.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
Many Ruby-crowned Kinglets foraged along the side of the nature trail this afternoon. This little guy kept hopping just a few feet further down the path as I approached rather than flying off.
Finally, after about five rounds of me catching up to him, he finally decided I wasn’t going to stop coming and flew off into the brush.
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
The drumming sound that Downy Woodpeckers make as they drill into tree trunks for insect larvae fills the air around the lake on most days and makes spotting these fast-moving birds relatively easy.
I caught this female Downy Woodpecker as she paused to listen for larvae buried under the rough bark of the pine tree.
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
I don’t like to linger near this Bald Eagle nest because I don’t want to stress the parents so I snapped this shot as quickly as I could.
I’m always impressed by the size of a Bald Eagle nest, relative to the birds themselves, and count myself lucky to have captured this adult as it watched carefully the air space around its nest.
Bald-faced Hornet
Dolichovespula maculata
This large, papery, Bald-faced Hornet nest is empty for the winter but it reminded me that spring is on its way. When spring arrives, so will the season’s insects, including these intimidating hornets.
The number of nests that litter the tree canopy is truly surprising and hint at how many hornets fly around the landscape during the warm season.
Luckily, Bald-faced Hornets leave humans alone usually, as long as we return the favor.
And I highly recommend returning the favor. Snapping this shot of an abandoned hornet nest from a distance with my telephoto lens is as close as I ever want to get to a Bald-faced Hornet nest.
I don’t mess around with hornets.
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Early afternoon |
|
Setting |
Large lake |
|
Temperature |
52° F / 11° C |
|
Weather |
Mostly sunny |
|
Humidity |
62% |
