Day 256 - 12th September 2013 - Mushrooms, Woodpecker, Black & White Warbler, Chickadee and Flowers

Woke up to thunder this morning and a 55 lb Lexi laying on my head. She's scared of thunder and if we are in bed that's where she goes, up around my head. Other times she's in my lap. Glad it didn't last too long, or I guess I probably slept through it. Temperature is + 19. 4 - that's pretty mild.  Back to work today, hoping the rest of the week goes well. Giving more heavy rain for tomorrow - the tail end of a tropical storm. I'm thinking their might be some good birding come Sunday.
Lexi and I had a great day at home yesterday. She loves having me home, she's used to staying by herself during the day but there's nothing like helping me with laundry etc to pass the time and the occasional romp through the hood. Laundry caught up - not sure where it all comes from, bed changed, floors swept, and so on. I roamed on my own in the morning, stopped and had tea with Lois, solved the world's problems. Birds were finicky and not very co-operative. Did better after lunch.  Made a zucchini chocolate cake and shredded the rest for the freezer - more cakes at a later date. Roast Chicken, with lots of veggies from the garden for supper.

 I just thought these were so cool, they are called orange peel mushrooms - aptly named.

 Male Hairy Woodpecker.

 Lois gave me a book on identifying mushrooms for Christmas last year, so now is the time to put it to good use. They are as hard to figure out as Birds. I think this is either a Mossy Maze Polypore or a Thin-maze Flat Polypore.

 Yes I've been in the neighbour's yards again, but I couldn't resist. Love the color such a pale shade of pink with white. Looks so delicate.

 Oh here comes that crazy woman with the camera again! Black and White Warbler.

 But the Chickadee is friendlier and ready to pose for me.

 Some of the gang was hanging out on the rock in the afternoon.

 Not pretty but I like the texture.













Enjoy your day!

Day 255 - 11th September 2013 - Morning, Birds, Leaves and Flowers

Another mild morning, +16.7, no stars in the sky and a few showers in the forecast. Looks like we might get quite a bit of rain on Friday and Saturday. I just think it sucks when it rains on the weekend. It's hurricane season, not that I expect one, usually by the time they get here they've been well downgraded but we do sometimes get a fair amount of wind and rain. There goes the leaves!  If we didn't have the weather to complain about what would we do? I'm off today and it all depends on the weather what I'm doing. Now that it's not so hot I'm starting to get in the baking mood again, I'm kind of thinking about brown bread today but may wait until Saturday morning. I'll probably toss together some cookies if nothing else. Have to soon tackle some zucchini for the freezer - that's just a shredding job and I've got a lot of basil I should do something with. Sounds like I've got my day used up!
Tuesday was a lot warmer than the last few days. Turned overcast by supper time, but I did get out for a quick walk. It was totally quiet and still, only found a few lively chickadees back out on the road close to home. The work day went well, a few people in to do research and I continued on with research for someone else. Got my haircut after work, wow did it ever feel good to shed a few pounds. I think the last of the Hummingbirds have gone, no sign of the single female I've had for the last few days.

 The sky looked hopeful, no mist yesterday morning.

 I love when the birds are feeding in the morning. Song Sparrow.

Palm Warbler.

 The Red-eyed Vireo seems to be everywhere these days.

 And apparently very hungry.

Still a few daisies around.

 And the leaves are turning more.

A lovely spot of color - the neighbours have put out a potted mum.



















Enjoy your day!

Day 254 - 10th September 2013 - Mist on the Lake, Sparrows and Red-Eyed Vireo

I've kind of overslept this morning, didn't get up until 5:45 am. In my defense I was late going to bed. Temperature is +8.7, pretty nippy though. I have visions of frost very soon. Looks like another fine day, but showers on their way for later this week. Another day at work - same old, same old. This time next month and I'll probably laid off for the winter, so I have lots to get done before then. I'm not going to worry about stuff, things will get done. Stay positive!
We got through Monday with very few issues. That's always good for the first day of the week, actually most of the day went pretty smoothly. Love smooth. Sun was out but I found it a tad bit chilly most of the day, guess I better think about putting my shorts away. Exercise class last night, and she put us through our paces with stations - yes they are so much fun! But I have to admit they are sure a lot easier than they were a year ago.

 Love the lake in the morning with the mist rising up.

This little sparrow was playing hide and seek.

 Quite sure he's a Song Sparrow.

 The Red-eyed Vireo was playing the same game.

Guess no one wanted to come out and pose for me. Must admit it was kind of chilly to be sitting around on a branch for any length of time.










Enjoy your day!

Day 253 - 9th September 2013 - Lake, Solitary Sandpiper, Warbler and Sunflower

Monday is with us once again. Much cooler this morning, temperature is +5.4 and we are looking for a sunny day. A provincial election was called on the weekend so guess I'll see lots of signs around in the next few days as I go back and forth to work. Should be interesting since they split our county in two (the boundary change of last fall). I'm predicted a low voters turnout for this area, but hope not. I'm a firm believer in voting, it gives us the right to complain and bitch for the next four years. Otherwise I think you should sit back and shut up. As a woman, we also spent too many years fighting to vote many years ago - yes there was a time we couldn't so that makes it even more important. Enough said on Elections, I'll get riled as the days go on and will have another little rant. Have no idea what the day will bring, perhaps some researchers or a few more things finished up. Exercise class tonight, good to get back into the routine - we'll soon have a few more joining us that haven't been around all summer.
As always the weekend flew by too quickly. I got around the hood for a quick jaunt in the morning and whipped around the house and did a few things there. Family stopped in for a visit late morning as they were heading off. They were among some of the out of towners home for the wedding. Great to catch up. Turned rainy so Lexi and I had a nap, which is really unusual for me and lasted about 2 hours. Apparently I needed more sleep! I feel like I wasted part of the day. Larry cooked a nice pork roast for supper with potatoes and veggies from the garden.  I've spent most of the summer chasing the warblers around the hood and finally today figured out their feeding routine. So I followed them but got distracted when I found the Sandpiper.

 I thought for sure the sun would come out and stay but wasn't meant to be.

 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle).

 I get a lot of back views.

 Was really surprised to see this Solitary Sandpiper on the shore along the lake. I sat quietly and he came quite close.

 A few of our random sunflowers, compliments of the birds.

Enjoy your day!

Day 252 - 8th September 2013 - Sunrise, Warblers, Creeper and Woodpecker

Sunday seems to be my sleeping in day - 6 am. That's alright, one day/week is good, beats getting up in the middle of the night that's for sure. Temperature is back up to +15.4, different than yesterday morning. They are giving some showers today, so probably won't get too far. Sounds like it might be a day at home. Well there are lots of things to be done.  Have a roast out to cook for supper - gives me a jump start on Monday's meal. Hoping the rain will hold off long enough for me to get my walk in today or maybe we can roam somewhere else.
Saturday was a marvelous day. Got very little housework done, but I found lots of birds. All I've seen before but managed some better photos of a few, which made me happy. Once again I have to say what great neighbours are in the hood. Those that let me roam their properties to stalk birds and those that stop their vehicles and wait for me to take pics. They never rush me, only laugh at me. Of course they also never know when I could be snapping one of them from the bushes! We joined friends and family at a wedding in the afternoon - beautiful and I'm sure the couple will be happy for many years to come. Finally a gathering of happy times not sad, seems the only time we see many of them are at funerals these last few years. A bunch of us went to Scotia Lunch between church and reception to have coffee and share stories and laughter.

 The day started with the sun rising over the mist on the lake.

 Not one of my best but - a Black-throated Green Warbler.

 Common Yellow-throated Warbler playing hide and seek with me.

 Swamp Sparrow

 Yellow Rumped Warbler - Myrtle.

 Brown Creeper.

Palm Warbler.

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Myrtle.

 Downy or Hairy Woodpecker, I have trouble telling which is which.

 Chickadee - nice to see them around again.

 Myrtle again.

 He landed right down by my feet - Myrtle.

 Myrtle.

 I finally got some good shots of the Red-eyed Vireo - you can see his red eye.

 Palm Warbler.

Red-eyed Vireo.












Enjoy your day!

Day 251 - 7th September 2013 - Foggy Mornings, Ducks and Birds

I'm up a little too early this morning, definitely cooler +6.7 and the stars are all out. Looks like it's going to be a nice day, which is great as we have a wedding to go to this afternoon. It's always nicer if they can have a fine day for photos, travelling from church to reception. One less thing to worry about. I'm sure the couple will be happy for many years to come. Larry's off this morning to do some work up the road, guess I'll be home catching up on laundry, etc. Maybe a roam around the hood this morning once the birds wake up.
Friday flew by, uneventful and with some more work cleared up. A few people in - always nice to talk to people that grew up in the area and come home on holidays and meet one of my blog readers. Things are different but the same if you know what I mean. I think all small towns are pretty much the same, if you look back through the years of local papers things don't change that much. People come and go, businesses and buildings but there still remains a bond where you can walk down the street and say hello and receive a smile and response. We spent the evening down at the Park throwing a surprise birthday party for the bestie. And she was surprised, of course had to lie through my teeth earlier in the day just to keep her from finding out, but that's fair.

 In the world of photos probably not the best but I like the way the sun is bright and breaking through the morning fog just the same.

 Fog is drifting off.

 Looks like this duck has found some breakfast.

 A Brown Creeper, these little guys are so shy and hard to catch, they blend right in with the tree bark.

 I always enjoy seeing the ducks on the lake.

 These couple I'm not so sure about, haven't had a chance to look through my bird book. This time of year I'm pretty lost with the warblers, they've changed colors, juveniles don't have their colors yet, etc.

Enjoy your day!