Sprague’s Pond is smallish water body in a suburban setting. The pond covers an area of about 2.5 acres. On the pond’s northwestern side is a mini park with playground and a grassy area. Two older commercial office buildings are set on the shore, one on the northeastern side and the other on the southern side. Busy roads line the north and east sides. But for whatever reason, this little suburban pond draws in wintering waterfowl like no other in the area. For that reason, it’s a regular birding stop for me. It’s only 4.5 miles from my house; about a 15 minute drive.
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My wife worked for many years in the office building on the south side of the pond. She would give me regular reports of bird sightings or whenever an otter would appear. About half the shoreline includes some dense riparian vegetation, mainly willows, that provide food and shelter for the wildlife. The pond is not natural but was created sometime during the 1960s based on historical USGS topographic maps I reviewed (reference here: USGS Topo View). I’m guessing the pond was created for storm water control. I’m still doing more research on the pond origin.
Here’s a link to Google Maps that will show you the location and surrounding area: Sprague’s Pond
Here’s the Google Earth view:
I made a brief trip to Sprague’s Pond on January 3rd, spending about a half hour observing and taking a few photos.
Similar suburban and park ponds usually have some resident Mallards or some hybrid farm ducks and geese. Here the welcoming committee was a pair of Mallards swimming up to me looking for a handout.
Something about Mallards that make them highly successful and adaptable. I don’t know what it is but they’re everywhere. Mallards like these here are usually quite friendly. Mallards that I encounter in wilder places often swim away when they see me, not in a panicky way, just slowly swimming away.
Other ducks out on the pond included Buffleheads and Ring-necked Ducks. The Buffleheads were a little shy and I didn’t get any decent photos of them. The Ring-necked Ducks were a little more cooperative but I had to be stealthy and move slowly like an animatron at Disneyland. Two female Ring-necked Ducks were out on the pond; no males.
A small flock of American Wigeons were busy grazing on the lawn area next to the pond shoreline.
Whenever you see a cormorant on an inland body of freshwater, the chances are that it’s a Double-crested Cormorant. And so it was, here at Sprague’s pond, a pair of Double-crested Cormorants, a juvenile and an adult.
Walking back to my car, some orange mushrooms caught my eye by their vivid color that contrasted with the drab winter surroundings. They were growing on a thick, dead twig near the shore. My follow up research identified these mushrooms as Velvet Foot (Flammulina velutipes). I’ll reference some key features that you can see in the photos.
This well known species is fond of cold weather, and usually appears in late fall or winter.
Ecology: Saprobic on the stumps, logs, roots, and living wood of hardwoods
MushroomExpert.com
Cap: 1 to 5 cm in diameter, convex to flat, viscid when moist, brownish orange, odor and taste mild.
Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America, p. 140
Stem: 2-11 cm long; 3-10 mm thick; equal or larger towards base; tough; pale to yellowish brown or orange brown when young; becoming covered with a dark, rusty brown to blackish velvety coating as it matures.
MushroomExpert.com
Gills: Adnexed or notched, pale orange, close.
Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America, p. 140
This diagram shows the different types of gill attachment to the stipe, which is helpful in mushroom identification.
Well, that’s all I have. What’s up in your own natural worlds?
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