Tue May 23 Nice
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF2151.jpg)
Last night … there were 5 new water lilies just breaching the surface with 1-2 pads. Here’s a couple of those …
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF2115-500x281.jpg)
No signs of decimation in the existing lilies. Looking good. Two different views …
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_0598-e1494348849173.jpg)
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF2139-1.jpg)
Saw a minnow. And – always seeing activity under the lily pads.
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF2146.jpg)
That’s either the minnows or blue gills. Pretty sure it’s the minnows though. But the surface is so occluded with stuff from the surrounding trees and shrubs
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF2153-500x281.jpg)
that visibility prevents ID’ing the creatures making the fuss.
However, this morning – that’s not so true – and … I saw baby minnows – 3/4″ long in the northwest section … in the shallows.
Tue May 16 Nature in Action
Seeing lots of surface activity – saw one school minnows – left of end of dock. About 20-25 fish.
Also saw a turtle, bout 8″ shell, swimming from west to east – at north-west back corner of pond.
And at least two Northern Water snakes – youngsters – about 20″ long – cruising along the surface of the pong.
Mon May 15 Fish Sightings
I’ve seen couple minnows, on two occasions, at end of dock – but Jerie saw a school of minnows – by laying on dock for a bit and being still.
Sat May 13 Restocking
Dumped 3 lbs Fathead minnows, and 12 Blue Gills into the pond. Here’s Jerie with the 3lb bag of Fathead minnows from Jones Fish …
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1932.jpg)
Some blues were dead as soon as they hit the water. Was freaking over the minnows – which largely survived even though 50% were sucking surface air before release. So I didn’t really examine the blues – could have shocked them … or … they just might not have survived the trip. Might have been me though. Some survived, I believe.
Thu, May 11 AOK
Still no new damage. Seems our outdoor semi-feral cats at taking care of the muskrats. I seem them working the pond, every now and then. They sometimes hunt in pairs.
Wed May 10 whoopsie
Trapper tele # might not have been a mobile – I should try again, leaving my number next time.
Tue, May 9 Geese?
I think it was the geese – otherwise, nothing new today. Cept that I discovered Charlie also likes to eat water lilies.
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1793.jpg)
And the geese – I’ll chase em off from now on, now that I know their appetites.
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1524.jpg)
Anyway, the trapper didn’t respond to my message.
Removed maybe the last loose lily pad. If I find another – hmmm …
Mon, May 8 Damage – the culprit?
3 small lily pads floating on surface – time to call trapper Jeff (there were Geese in the pond yesterday – but I don’t think they’re the culprits).
I left him trapper Jeff a message around noon. But later that day … after some research …
WRONG – Canadian Geese do eat water lilies, reeds, etc. Specially young plants
Wed, May 3rd pond walk …
Water lilies are fine (yeah – many have come back – not sure yet how many, or if all of them)
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1801.jpg)
Phrags – well some are tipped this way, and some that way – have to wonder if a muskrats been chewing on them down below – OTOH – we had some epic winds yesterday. Going with the fact the water lilies are fine – and assuming still not muskrats.
April 25 – restocking
Planted some 20 water lilies from Lowes.
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1628.jpg)
This means extracting the bulbs from the packaging, and gently tossing them into the pond where I want them to root.
April 20 – Returnees
And the ones coming back form last year continue to thrive. The dock lily …
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1395.jpg)
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1806.jpg)
Monday, Jan 2nd pond walk revealed …
- Yowsa – a 4″ hole coming straight up out of the top of the NE bank.
- Yowsa – two holes in the side of the SW bank- under grassy ledges in the side of the bank.
- And one in center of West bank just under the water. I put a trap on it on Jan 17.
Jan 20 no new activity
Nothing new seen by those holes. Including the trap. (I covered the holes with twigs and leaves – they remain undisturbed)
Jan 22 trap triggered
The empty trap was triggered. I reset it. Area around hole had musky smell. Here’s Charlie, inspecting the trap, before I set it up the first time.
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF1111.jpg)
On Jan 30 muskrat tells
I saw Muskrat shits on top of ice. 6 of them. About 3/4″ inch long. Slightly curled. Final proof. Serious tells.
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF0122.jpg)
On Mar 10 damage
I saw one closed white blossom. Near the surface. Just under the ice.
![](https://www.southridgewest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSCF0580.jpg)
No other signs though.
Should call trapper Jeff