At the furthest point west on Presque Isle Bay is a cattail bed that is designated an Important Bird Area (IBA). It has been granted that status because for a few weeks in late summer, before they make their migratory flight south, tens of thousands of Purple Martins from far and wide congregate and roost here each evening. Unbeknownst to many are the number of other diverse creatures to which the beds play host. The cattail beds provide a lush and watery labyrinth; channels with inlets and outlets throughout the beds for the secretive meanderings of the least bittern, pied-billed grebe, common moorhens, wood ducks, American coots and red-winged blackbirds, and many others. Among the other creatures sharing the space with our feathered friends are the muskrat, dragons and damsel flies, and many fish. Sitting in a kayak just outside the aquatic labyrinth one is amazed at the many different sounds emanating from within. At times it sounds like a jungle in there! Click this link to hear the call of a pied-billed grebe. If you are fortunate enough to sneak a peek at one of its more stealthy inhabitants, it’s worth the wait.
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A family of wood ducks skirts the edge of the far shore. They can often also be heard within the cattail bed.
Can you find the grebe?! He hopes not.
Here he is!
A pair of American Coots can often be seen swimming along the reeds at the west side of the cattail bed.
A lone common moorhen. Not so common in this area, but with broods observed this year and last at the cattail beds.
A hungry muskrat on a float of cattails munches some roots. The muskrats can often be seen swimming from shore to reed bed and back.
A curious painted turtle looks at me looking at him:)
A bee emerges after collecting pollen from a waterlily. There are many bees out on the water at this time of year helping to pollinate the aquatic plants like the water lilies and pickerel weed.
Oh, yeah. The Mute Swan family is also still around.
Stay tuned for my upcoming post…the hunting herons of Presque Isle.
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Awesome series of photos! Love the Grebe peeking just above the water line.