VON Retention Basin

by Bruce Pokras

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The VON retention basin is a place loved by geese in the winter.		Some geese are standing on the ice. The others are swimming . . . brrrrr!	Doe and fawn who came out of the woods on the far side of the retention basin.
An early sighting of a beaver in the retention basin.	This beaver was ready for its closeup.	Video: beaver swimming in VON retention basin with birds chirping in the background. 43 seconds of relaxation!	This deer is "high tailing" it out of there! Maybe that's where that phrase came from.
Some smaller birds sometimes try to chase larger birds away. It's called "mobbing." Here the heron is being mobbed by a red-winged blackbird. The heron simply ignores him.	Can you spot the bird who does not belong?	The dammed-up overflow device in the retention basin. I took the picture because I liked the reflection.	These ducks are called Hooded Mergansers.
Geeese enjoying the retention basin.	A goose comedian trying to do a funny landing? LOL.	A Mallard convention with snow falling.
A beautiful reflection of trees in the retention basin.	A House Finch sittng on my neighbor's house. Appropriate name, right?	A wood duck and its ducklings. So cute!	Geese and ducks coexisting.
This male red-winged blackbird is ready for its closeup.	A male red-winged blackbird in all of its glory!	A female red-winged blackbird. She does not have black feathers or red wings. However, she is still pretty!	A female red-winged blackbird taking off.
Heron displaying its wings. Why is it doing this?	One day I noticed somehing yellow in the vegetation around the retention basin. It turned out to be a beautiful American Goldfinch.	Here is the American Goldfinch taking off.	A duck family on the basin.
A Great Egret. So beautiful!	Another Great Egret pic. It was a good day for reflections!	A beautiful Great Egret in flight.	Great Blue Heron taking off!
A beautiful Great Blue Heron in flight.	The Great Blue Heron is such a magnificent bird in flight.	This heron was ready for its closeup.	Not all of the flying creatures around the retention basin are birds.
This Great Egret is doing a little fishing!	OK. so this goose wanted a closeup, too.		The whole retention basin at sunset.
Goose squadron #1.	It was a wintry morning, and the retention basin had frozen over. I looked out of my kitchen window and saw this animal (an otter?). I quickly got my camera.	Here is the animal scurrying back across the ice. It definitely has something for breakfast in its mouth.	Duck squadron.
Geese leaving the retention basin at sunset.	Cardinal in the snow. A friend suggested that this pic could be used in a winter holiday card. I took that as a compliment!	One goose to another: "remind me again why we didn't fly south for the winter this year"!	A ring-necked duck. You would see the ring when it stretches its neck.
Another view of the retention basin at sunset.	Goose squadron #2.	The little island in the retention basin became a nesting place.	Is this goose giving a speech?
Pair of Wood Ducks.	Shall we call him the "laughing Mallard"?	Geese parents and their goslings.
The overflow device became a nesting place with Mama goose guarding it. See the cute, fuzzy little goslings?	Heron with a beaver swimming by.	Mallard quadruplets.	The Mallard quadruplets are getting big!
I don't know where this heron is going, but it is looking good doing it!	I have been told that this is a groundhog, but it is not as cute as Punxsutawney Phil! It came out of the woods that border one side of the retention basin.	One more Great Egret pic.	This dragonfly once again proves that not all winged creatures of the retention basin are birds.
Duck drill team. Pic. #1.	Duck drill team. Pic. #2. They had come out in a straight line (Duck drill team Pic. #1) Then they all turned at the same time to face my camera!	A duck gives me a smile as he flies by.
	Herons like to hang out in trees!	Heron in a tree in the retention basin - on one leg!	Osprey(?) flying over the retention basin.
Yes, it's a turtle on the grass around the retention basin. They make appearances on the grass once in a while. Is it looking up at me?	Duck squadron!	Once in a while deer come out of the woods.	No idea why the heron is doing this. Do you?
Beaver in the muck.			A Western Sandpiper visited the retention basin. I previously only remember seeing them down the shore.
Bucolic retention basin pic w-heron and a beaver wake.	Is this goose making fun of someone?	The late afternoon is a great time to capture trees reflected in the retention basin.	Living close to the retention basin means a duck can fly right by your window.
This beaver is dragging a really large branch to its lodge.	I liked how the house reflection looked through the reeds.	Wood Duck and its cute ducklings	A heron and a frog go into a retention basin. It did not end well for the frog.
This heron was happy to hear that the retention basin menu included fish today.	This fawn walked all the way from the woods to my side of the retention basin to say "hello." No mama doe in sight.