Caroline's Visit, Part 2

     High on Caroline's wish list when she comes to spend time with us is a visit to SpruceHaven. Normally she would look forward to chatting with Dave, Sandy and Jamie, but the dreaded Coronavirus put an end to such pleasantries. She was very keen, nevertheless, to see the successional progress of the restored grassland, check the status of the nest boxes, visit the Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), and so on!
     Here is a view of a few of the nest boxes we installed last fall, in preparation for this year's breeding season.

     The box you see in the foreground held six Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) ready to fledge, and a conscientious adult was bringing food.

     The grassland has contributed in a significant way to the abundance of insects, and many species were foraging over and in it. While we were there on Sunday with Caroline, Barn Swallows from nearby Blaze Farm were taking full advantage of the flush of insect prey available for the taking.
     Here is a first look at some of the new growth this year.

     I was teaching Caroline Nestbox 101, enabling her to identify different species by the architecture of their nests, even without the benefit of distinctively patterned eggs. Here she is peering into a box from which a clutch of five Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) fledged a couple of weeks ago. 

     You will all be pleased to know that she passed the course with high grades!
     Another couple of grassland views.

     Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) have wasted no time in exploiting the insects that form their diet, now present in copious numbers.

     This post is going to be top-heavy with images of our newly emerging prairie landscape, but the splendour of it all is not to be missed.

     And a few more pictures.

     Miriam and Caroline standing together in the grasses will give you an idea of the height of the plant structure which is the foundation of this restoration.

     Okay, maybe a lot more pictures!

     Are you not gobsmacked by the splendour of it all?

     This fledgling Barn Swallow was no doubt convinced that the living is easy!

     There were many butterflies nectaring on the plants, principally Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). There were a few Mourning Cloaks (Nympahlis antiopa) and this Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) even stopped for a picture.

     There were several small diurnal moths too, but we were unable to get a good look at them, and their identity remains unknown.
     Miriam had bread baking at home, due out of the bread machine by 13h:30, so we did not have much time to visit the barn.

     If you look carefully at the left in the picture above you can see me checking a Barn Swallow nest.
     The pond is a sight for sore eyes, and a Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) daintily picked its way across the lily pads.
     

     Yellow Pond-lily (Nuphar variegata) is very attractive.

     And so is White Water-lily (Nymphaea adorata).

     In addition to beautifying the pond, these plants serve to keep the temperature of the water cool enough to permit prolific occupancy by minnows and amphibians.
     It was time to head for home to the odour of fresh bread as we opened the door.
     Caroline could barely stop talking about her morning's adventure, especially extolling the magnificence of the grassland ecosystem maturing before her eyes.
     Now if only I can convince Dave to add a couple of bison!