Saturday evening 11:00pm: Just got back from a night prowl around the lagoon. As it got dark, a luminous silver moon hung in the sky over black silhouetted trees and you could imagine it was a long time ago, listening for the call of a loon, and seeing a canoe glide across the water.

On the other side, the sparkling lights of buildings beamed multi-colours across the water's surface, and through lacy trees. Hardly anyone was out, so it was wonderfully peaceful. Near the far end, Mama Swan was the only one out at that hour, and came over for a little visit, just a gray ghost of a swan floating on the lagoon.

Standing on the little bridge on the alternate-path to the stone-bridge road, I heard one of the most beautiful bird calls ever - not a familiar song. My friend identified it as a Swainson's thrush, and it's apparently the first year one's been heard at the lagoon - they're normally only in deep forest areas. It lent such magic to the clear evening air.

Precious and Marlika have found a much more secluded spot in the wetlands -I never would have located them, but Precious came out onto the road to say "Hello" and after spending a few minutes, went back using an almost invisible little swan-width path he's opened. I followed him just a bit, and saw Mom and cygnet in a secluded mini-pond; they all spent time together,then headed deeper into the wetlands. After dark, however, we noticed Mom and the cygnet back on the old nest to sleep!

The youngsters, Boy and Brother were joined tonight by three separate families of ducklings; seemed to enjoy the evening together. One mother duck had her 8 ducklings on the ground, all cuddled in a fluffy heap around her breast, while the other 2 groups (1 had 9 and the other 5) zoomed around the swans in the water. Swans and ducks seem to get along so well! Not quite so for Canada Geese!

Also spotted a pretty little skunk in the twilight shadows, enjoying a quiet stroll. They weren't around last year, but I figured they had returned when my nose detected that unmistakable "eau de skunk" here and there along the path! We wisely left our furry friend in peace to continue her nocturnal promenade.