Day 91 - 31st March 2016 - Bald Eagle, Song Sparrow and Lighthouse

Here we are on the last day of March, another month rolls by. Stars are all out this morning and the moon is hanging low behind the branches of a big pine tree. Makes me think of Halloween for some reason. Going to be a fine day so I'll take advantage of some time around the hood. Surely one of these days soon something interesting will pop out.
Seemed to strange to have a sunny Wednesday when I was in town. On the way in we saw one of the Bald Eagles in the old tree next to the rive watching for ducks no doubt. It's a perfect spot for him to see all around. The harbour didn't yield much - mostly gulls. Friends got photographs of the first Piping Plovers  to arrive at Cape Sable Island  for the season - that has to be a sign of spring. I got out after supper for a walk, stopped for tea with Lois. A female Mallard flew into her bird feeders - she comes every year.

Bald Eagle.

I did catch this Song Sparrow on the waterfront.

He was quite content to stay in the bushes but sang his song for me.

And the Sandy Point Lighthouse always seems to be floating.







Enjoy your day!

Day 90 - 30th March 2016 - Herring Gulls, Song Sparrow and Long-tailed Duck

Stars and the moon are shining brightly this morning - looks like a fine day on the horizon. This will be a change since it's Wednesday and my town day, think I'll take Big B. with me today. Might be something of interest along the waterfront.
Tuesday was one of those wonky weather days we love in the Maritimes - no snow though which was the good news. Rain/Sun - Sun/Rain. Lexi and I did manage a couple tours around the hood, but it wasn't a day for Big B. I picked up some energy somewhere - considering I was up at 4:15 am it was surprising. Did the spring cleaning in the Bowling Alley, tackled some upstairs and a bit more swamping out in the front room. Also did a couple of lunch box entrees for Larry, a pan of breakfast bakes, Shrimp stirfry with brown rice for supper and since it was Tuesday, Cathy stopped for coffee and a chat.

Herring Gull.















He looks like he's tip toeing along the sand.

The Black-headed Gull was diving.

Song Sparrow

Long-tailed Duck. They are attractive.









Enjoy your day!

Day 89 - 29th March 2016 - Fox Sparrow, Chickadee and Crocuses

Seems the rain has stopped but it's very windy, that might have been what woke me up too early.  Doesn't make much difference, have lots to do today. Lunch box preps, kitchen work and continue with the Spring Cleaning. Hopefully I can get out for a good walk this morning and stretch out those muscles that took a beating at class last night.
The Blue Jays and Grackles were so vocal today, not sure what was going on but they never shut up!  I looked several times thinking there was a Hawk nearby but found nothing. Their numbers are increasing and thankfully they didn't spend all their time in the feeders but were foraging in the yard for worms, bugs etc. I suspect. Several Starlings and 4-5 Robins were enjoying the lawn as well.

 

 Fox Sparrow - a new visitor this Spring to the feeders yesterday afternoon.

This clump of Crocuses haven't opened yet.













Not sure if this Chickadee is interested in the feed or his reflection.

Red Berries that remain throughout the winter.









Enjoy your day!

Day 88 - 28th March 2016 - Red-Tailed Hawks, Long-Tailed Ducks, Bonapart and Black-Headed Gulls

Monday - I slept in til 5:15 am and mostly all night. Feels good to get a rest. Larry's back to work and I've got to get my act together and get the things done I didn't do on the weekend. Looks like some rain today, hopefully I'll get out for an early walk before it starts.
Had a great Sunday on the road. Note to self - plan out route, don't let DH (dear hubby). We went up the back road and saw a Red-Tailed Hawk. Then headed toward Digby on the old road til we got to Richfield. Larry had taken a map and thought it would be a good shortcut to go through Hectanooga - dirt road, then we found pavement - oops I'm not sure if it was or not. Anyway we eventually made it to Meteghan were we went in search of a Gull - not just any Gull - a different one. Well I don't think we ever did find that one, but we did see Bonapart and Black-headed Gulls, lots of Longtailed Ducks, Surf Scooters and a couple of Killdeers. We travelled back along the shore with a side trip to Mavillette Beach - quiet looking there and then on to Yarmouth. Found another Red-Tailed Hawk down town, then stopped to Dayton Red & White returning home via the backroad.

Red-Tailed Hawk at Kempt.

Bonapart Gull at Meteghan.

Killdeer.
















Black-headed Gull in the background. A new bird for us.

Female and Male Long-Tailed Ducks.















Surf Scooter.

Another Red-Tailed Hawk in Yarmouth.








Enjoy your day!

Day 87 - 27th Marc 2016 - Boreal Chickadee, Rose Hips and Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Happy Easter Everyone! Stars and Moon are shining in the sky this morning, a nip in the air with a little frost on the ground.  It's going to warm up some though as the day goes on. We are off again this morning, I need the outdoors these days - a little bonding with nature.
So yesterday I was back on top again - or at least my stomach was ok. We headed off about 7:30 to go on a Birding trip, down through Clyde, Blanche, Baccaro then off to Barrington for groceries. A good turn out and group - folks local, but some from Yarmouth and Lunenburg County as well as the Halifax area. Nice to put faces to names of those we'd not met before.

From the Port Clyde Bridge, was a little grey and chilly.

 Rose Hips

 If you look really close behind the bottom Hairy Woodpecker, you will see the back of the Grey Jay that I didn't get a good shot of! On a up note - there were 3 and I've not seen one in close to 40 years.

 Pine Siskin

 Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Unfortunately I was shooting in to the light for most of these. Boreal Chickadee. This was a new one for Larry, he'd not seen them before. 







Enjoy your day!

Day 86 - 26th March 2016 - Junco, Chickadee and Mallards

Well Friday didn't go quite as planned - I had a dodgy stomach all day - a diet of gravol and gingerale, spending most of the time in bed (thanks to the gravol). I did manage some supper which seem to make things a bit better.  I didn't get anything done that I planned to do. Feeling better this morning, but not perhaps 100%. Anyway we are off on a group birding excursion - hoping something interesting is around. At least it seems mild and the day looks pretty good except a bit windy.

Junco foraging under the feeders.

 Chickadee in the shadows - he's found  a seed.

The five male Mallards - bobbing a long.







Enjoy your day!

Day 85 - 25th March 2016 - Sunrise, Mallard and Purple Finch

Thursday was another grey and cold day - what happen to Spring??? Well now we have more rain on the way for today although they say it's better than snow - no shoveling! A good meeting yesterday afternoon, I'll get the notes done up today while things are still relatively fresh in my mind. It's Good Friday so Larry is home for the holiday, we'll probably take the opportunity to continue with the clear out so we can free the weekend up to do some birding and a road trip.

The sun arrived yesterday in bold colors - storm on the way.

Five male Mallards in the cove - no females. They must be off beginning the nesting process.

And there were a few ice droplets along the shorelines.

The yard was busy, birds were hungry. The Purple Finches are getting brighter.










Enjoy your day!

Day 84 - 24th March 2016 - Waves, Purple Finches and Grandmother's Journal

And it rained and rained some more, but finally late in the afternoon it cleared. It was nice to watch the first full moon of spring rise up over the trees last night and stars all in the sky. This morning they are mostly behind clouds. Busy day in town, Wednesday - not as much one as I would have liked.
Grandmother's Journal:
23 Mar 1977: What a storm overnight.High winds, snow starting around 3 am. I stayed home from work this morning. By noon, snow didn't seem too bad. Kim walked up this morning late. Haven't been out today. Still snowing but no high wind. 
24 Ma r 1977: Road bad to MC. Barb P. got stuck at Warrner's in a snow drift. Kim still here. Bob had a shot for his bursitis. Dr. MW. Paining him tonight. 
25 Mar 1977: Bob still home, arm is sore from the needle. Still snow over night. Snow flurries most of the day. Sharon H. had a luncheon bridge - very nice. Kim got her grandfather his supper. She's gone to a school thing for the evening. Plans to come back for the night. 

More waves.

And a couple of Male Purple Finches.






Enjoy your day!

Day 83 - 23rd March 2016 - Loon, Ducks and Waves

So we battled the March winds on Tuesday - boy did it blow! The sun is stronger melting most of the snow away from Monday. Moon and stars were all out in the evening but behind clouds this morning - more rain today. But it is Wednesday and rains every Wednesday as it's my town day! Yesterday was mostly a kitchen day - big pot of soup, cupcakes and more lunch box entrees.  Cathy stopped for her Tuesday afternoon coffee and chat on the way home - always good to catch up. It's been several days since I've take Big B. out for a good jaunt, seems I'm in a slump of finding things that are interesting. The weekend should be better.

Loon from a another outing. They are still around the harbours, haven't heard them in the lake yet.














Mallards, Black Ducks and a Mixed Duck.

And whenever you go to the seashore there are lots of waves.










Enjoy your day!

Day 82 - 22nd March 2016 - Pine Siskin, Goldfinch and Chickadee

Stars are all out this morning - been a few days since I've seen them. Looks like a cool but sunny day on the horizon. Am looking forward to a good tramp around the hood, then a kitchen mostly day. A big pot of soup, Easter cupcakes for the girls and who knows what else. Oh yeah... a little more of the cleaning. 
Monday was another Maritime weather day - snow, ice pellets, rain and a little more snow.  So we put that day behind us and hope for better today! The feeders were busy with the nasty weather - the small birds patiently wait for the bigger ones (Blue Jays, Grackles) to have their fill. The Chipping Sparrow is still hanging out. He's been here all winter. Well it was an inside day of computer work - week 2 of my online course, some other work. Then a little more work in the room I'm cleaning out. A chat with a friend on the phone - our weekly catch up. Exercise class last evening rounded the day out.

Pine Siskin - a little ragged looking from the weather.

There are always a few Pine Siskins mixed in with the Goldfinches and they seem to get along well.














The curious Chickadee.

A few Crocuses from a sunnier day!








Enjoy your day!

Day 81 - 21st March 2016 - Bird's Nest, Purple Finch and Canada Goose

It's snowing out - blah! Suppose to turn to ice pellets and then rain later this morning. Yeah I know it's only March and we can still have snow but... I'm ready for Spring!  It's really out of my control - come to think of it, most things are but it's no point in arguing with Mother Nature. I've had a restless night - woke right up at midnight, came downstairs and read for a while then fell asleep on the sofa only to dream the rest of the night. So I'm not right perking, but slept enough to get through the day. Computer work and doing some more swamping out rooms. My aim is to get that stuff done this week and finish up some spring cleaning.
Well the first day of spring was a little chilly but the sun was shining all day. I was stuck in side until late afternoon but managed a quick jaunt around the hood before supper. Larry has began the chore of cutting up the wood for next winter.  His words - "might as well start it now you'll want to go birding on the weekends before too long". Wise man.  He knows I'm anxious for Warblers and Shorebirds to return.

Birds nest from last year.














Purple Finch - I think their coloring is getting brighter.

And she prepares to glide into the lake.

Pretty graceful.

and in she goes.





Enjoy your day!

Day 80 - 20th March 2016 - Purple Finch, Squirrel and Canada Geese

Yeah the first day of Spring!! Bring it on - flowers, sunshine and warmer temperatures. At least the stars are out this morning and I can hear the geese in the lake even though it's still dark out. Not sure why they are sounding disturbed, but the young flock that's around are more vocal than William and Kate. Looks like a mostly sunny day on the horizon and I'll be stuck inside all day. Oh well such is life.
Saturday started off with snow flurries, but what came down didn't last long. As is the norm these days the sun made quick work of it. We did the grocery shopping and a few errands. Took a drive in search of the Northern Mocking Bird I had seen earlier in the week with no camera, but no luck there. Only saw a Song Sparrow and 2 very fast moving Ruby Crowned Kinglets, a Common Merganser was in the harbour but too far for a decent shot. So it was a bit of a bust on the bird front.

Purple Finch - munching away.

















Some morning snow while one of the three Squirrels cleaned out the bird seed.

William & Kate were enjoying the afternoon sun on the dock.

And who says they can't share - Chickadee and Downy Woodpecker.








Enjoy your day!