Watching the flock

(Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo) Adult Canada geese keep watch over four goslings at Six Mile Lake in northern Dickinson County. By late June the goslings are well-grown and getting close to developing feathers, even as the adults will molt in July. Many of the songbirds hatched in spring have already fledged, with a number of species likely to try for a second brood before the summer is done. But the geese only get one chance — if they lose goslings at this point, they won't attempt to start over. This group has visibly shrunk from what was seen earlier in the month. Most wild turkey hens now have poults following them as well, and at least one string of what seemed like a dozen ruffed grouse chicks could be seen crossing Six Mile Lake Road earlier in the month.