Pond’s edge…
Cranston Lakes 5/15/25
I am fortunate to be in close proximity of a number of ponds, lakes, streams and rivers all within a stone’s throw of our home here in the Hudson Highlands. Thinking about today’s theme, I decided it would be enjoyable just to go explore the edge of one of these ponds and see what mid-spring has brought to life. Cranston Lakes are two adjoining lakes within a 10 minute walk from home. When I taught Environmental Science at the local High School, I often took my classes up to this site as it is only a couple of minutes from our classroom. Sometimes there was a specific species or element of the pond that we were looking for and other times it was simply to document all that we could observe in a short half-hour span. It’s mid-spring now and life is just beginning to make its presence known as birds are breeding, amphibians are developing from tadpoles to adults, dragonflies are evolving from aquatic nymphs into adults and on and on. Walking along a pond’s edge at this time of year is a great exercise in observational skills. At first, other than the spring chorus from the bird life, everything seems so peaceful and almost dormant. But when you really start to look and listen, it is amazing how much is going on right in front of your eyes.
Looking out onto the water’s surface, all appears placid until you start to observe small ripples along the ponds’s edge. Closer examination reveals that the source of these ripples are tiny little critters commonly called “whirligig beetles.”The whirligig beetle, belonging to the family Gyrinidae, is a fascinating aquatic insect recognized for its distinctive swimming style. These beetles can be spotted gliding across the surfaces of ponds and lakes, where they often spin and whirl, giving them their name. Characterized by their streamlined bodies and large, compound eyes, whirligig beetles are adept at navigating through water, with their unique adaptations allowing them to see both above and below the surface simultaneously. They primarily feed on small aquatic organisms and are known for their social behavior, often appearing in groups while foraging. Their presence not only indicates a healthy ecosystem but also adds to the intricate dynamics of freshwater habitats.
Another sign of a healthy body of water is the presence of these dragonfly molts found clinging to vegetation or in this case a guard rail along the pond’s edge. This is the molt of a “Stream cruiser dragonfly” (hope I got that right!). There are three stages to a dragonfly’s life….egg, larva or nymph, and adult. The eggs are laid near or in the water and hatch as the nymph which looks like what you see here. Amazingly, the nymph may live for several years at the pond’s bottom before it emerges and climbs up onto vegetation or some other structure above the water’s surface and undergoes a final molt to the adult stage. The “Stream cruiser” is one of the earliest to emerge and become an adult.
Blue Corporal
It’s still a little early for dragonflies to be found in big numbers. Their time to shine is in Mid- to Late-summer. The Blue Corporal that I found today is an “early riser” and is found along pond edges from early spring all the way into the fall. Today, there were only a precious few dragonflies flitting along the water’s edge. This Blue corporal kept skimming out over the water and returning to the same spot on a granite outcrop next to the water. I prefocused my camera on the same spot and was ready for him each time he landed.
I was hoping to find some froga or toads to photograph for inclusion into today’s blog, but many are still swimming around as tadpoles and others are simply being reclusive. I heard and recorded the call of the gray tree frog. These frogs will drive you crazy trying to locate them by their call. They are loud but they are also very well camouflaged. Listen for this frog which is heard throughout this region at this time of year. I also heard a lone Green frog call from deep in a heavily vegetated pool.
There were two species of birds along the edge today. The most prevalent next to the water was naturally the Red-winged blackbird. The female of this species looks more like a “sparrow on steroids “ than a blackbird, This female sat and preened for a considerable amount of time making for an easy photo capture.
The other dominant bird singing at the lake today was the Baltimore oriole. For a bright yellow/orange bird, this species can stay well hidden among the green foliage of the surrounding trees Finally, however I did find the nest of one of these marvelous architects. The intricacy of their pendulum nest as seen here is a marvel. Do you think you could weave a structure so meticulously using your hands? Now try it with your teeth….. Nature is incredible!
Last but not least was this handsome muskrat who was checking out the water’s edge for a mid-afternoon snack. While muskrats are primarily herbivores, they will occasionally eat mussels, other crustaceans, and small fish. This fellow eventually entered the water and swam right up to me to give me a chance at one parting shot. As you can see….pond edges have a lot to offer and they will only get more productive as we move into the summer months.
