Day 127 - 7th May 2015 - Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Daffodils and a Robin

Up too early, read for a bit before firing up the laptop and seeing what the world did while I was sleeping. Sometimes it's better that way. Temperature is +7, lot of cloud cover blocking out the stars earlier but within a 1/2 hour they had disappeared. As dawn arrives the musical interlude of the birds joins the peepers. Song Sparrows, a Hermit Thursh and a Robin, perhaps even a Woodcock in the background. Some mornings I don't recognize everyone, but love to listen. Work today, lots to do there. Time to start crossing things off of the list that has piled up over the winter months.
A fine day, didn't quite get as much done as  I should have. Spent a long time roaming the hood early in the morning, lots of activity - but mostly high in the trees. Saw the Eastern Phoebe again, think he will be my nemesis this season! Spotted a couple of Magnolia Warblers, lots of Hermit Thrushes and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The time for good hunting (camera) in my patch is near.

Yellow-rumped Warbler - a breakfast of tree buds or perhaps there are bugs in that bud.

A Loon fishes from the lake - he's not quite got his summer plumage.

My favourite and faithful summer bird - Hermit Thrush. Their song is haunting but some how calming at the same time.

Forsythia is blooming.

These miniature daffodils popped up in my flower bed, I forgot that I planted them last year.

Robins are everywhere now - the yard and the woods.








Enjoy your day!

Day 126 - 6th May 2015 - Pollen, Grackle, Daffodils and a Squirrel

Nice morning, I tossed and turned for an hour and then finally decided I'd had enough and got up. Temperature is +6, moon and stars are shining brightly in the sky. I can hear peepers but it must be too early for the birds. Another 1/2 hour or more and they will begin their morning songs. I love my mornings, a little time by myself to think and plan the days events. Sunrises are also the prettiest part of the day. I must get out for a jaunt and see if there are any new Warblers in the hood. They are slow moving in this year. Not in their normal spots, so I guess I've got to look a little deeper for them.
The sun shone brightly and warmed everything up on Tuesday with just a gently breeze. It was still +18 when we got home at supper time. Oh what a day it would have been to spend on the deck, but alas working pays the bills. It wasn't such a bad day at work anyway. Larry and Lexi did some work around the yard after supper, Getting it cleaned up a bit from the winter. I got stuck in the house doing up things.

Allergy season has begun - pollen on the lake.

The Grackles are everywhere.

More spring flowers are popping up.

Daffodils are such a welcome burst of color around the yard.

Bright and sunny.

The Daphne didn't flower as well this year, just a few blooms here and there.

Larry's nemesis. There are two again, soon to me more I'm sure.








Enjoy your day!

Day 125 - 5th May 2015 - Robin, Cowbird, Cormorant and Beaver

Temperature is +11. I've overslept this morning ( 6 am). Guess I must have been tired. It's kind of cloudy but suppose to be a sunny day. Loving the weather these last few days. Haven't had to build a fire in the furnace since Friday night. My brain isn't functioning well - still only about half way through my first cup of coffee. Sometimes I need that extra jolt to wake me up.
Another beautiful day, Monday - temperature was +19 on the way home from work. Days like that should be a holiday! Anyway it was a day to get some things done - fairly quiet, just a few visitors and phone calls. Exercise class last night - good work out.

A Robin sits at the top of a pine - singing in the morning.

Song Sparrow following suit.

I caught one of the Beavers in the lake, usually they aren't around that time of morning.

Cormorant in the harbour.

Spotted a Female Cowbird in the feeder when we got home last night.

Female Purple Finch - lots of these around now.








Enjoy your day!

Day 124 - 4th May 2015 - Broad-wing Hawk, Eastern Phoebe and Swamp Sparrow

Here it is Monday once again, temperature is +1. The weekends fly by way too fast. The early morning sounds didn't let me down - I can hear a Hermit Thrush, Song Sparrow and the Peepers. It helps to set the stage for a better day. Have to spend some time today on something other than going through old newspapers for book research. Need to purge through some other items.
Sunday turned out to be the nicest day we've had in a long time, temperature went to +24. Hoping for more of the same. We didn't go anywhere, just stayed around the hood. I roamed and worked around the house. Did the weekly cooking. Took a little time out to enjoy the deck and the birds in the feeders. Larry started some yard clean up and the kitchen garden beds prep. Soon we can think about planting.

There were two of these Broad-wing Hawks, probably the same ones I saw a few weeks ago. Last year  I saw three fly over the house one day.

Not a terrific shot, but I was stalking the Hawks when this guy flew into my vision - Eastern Phoebe and a new one for my list.

It was a beautiful, calm morning to be on the lake.

Swamp Sparrow - first I've seen this season.

More bad shots, but there were two Eagles flying over the lakes around lunch time. Usually I've only seen one.

Purple finch - they've become regular visitors these days.








Enjoy your day!

Day 123 - 3rd May 2015 - Double - crested Cormorant, Evening Grosbeak and Daffodils

It's a beautiful morning out there, everyone should get up early and enjoy it! Temperature is +2 but feels warmer. The peepers are so loud and a Hermit Thrush is singing to me from across the road.  It gives you such a great feeling when you get up and can hear those wonders of nature. A little cooking to do this morning, then I think we'll go on a short road trip - maybe find a few birds if we are lucky for a few hours.
So far I'm liking the change in weather May has brought. The temperature went up to +17 yesterday afternoon. I puttered around the house and roamed the hood most of the day, Larry didn't get home til after 3. I had pizza made, so an early supper/late lunch and then off to town for groceries. Never an enjoyable experience, but a necessity of life. In and out in less than an hour, then tea and catch up with Cathy on the way home. The one thing I miss about back to work is our Tuesday afternoon coffee. Something to look forward to in the fall again. I watched two male Flickers in the apple tree yesterday  in some kind of a territory spat. Well they mostly acted like gentlemen but you could certainly tell that one was trying to tell the other to find a new place! It went on for at least 1/2 hour, but I didn't get my camera for fear of breaking the moment.

Lois has a few Daffodils beginning to open.

Double Crested Cormorant - he returns to the lake every year. Another sign of summer. I was laying on a neighbour's dock as he was swimming by.

Even though he looked right at me, he didn't seem to care I was there.

It was a perfectly calm morning.

This female Downy Woodpecker prefers the feeder to the suet.

The feeders were busy all day, several Evening Grosbeaks hung around.

Purple Finch and Goldfinch.








Enjoy your day!

Day 122- 2nd May 2015 - Grackle and Canada Geese

Milder this morning, temperature is +5. Awake too early, but I curled up in the chair and read for a while. Peepers in the ditch and I can hear a Loon in the lake. So still and quiet his voice is haunting and loud. Larry has a job to do for someone this morning, so he'll be gone. That leaves Lexi and I home to do some work around the house and maybe a roam around the hood. Sunday will be for birding.
Perhaps a little warmer yesterday, well maybe not so windy. I didn't wear my gloves in the afternoon so I guess that something can be said for that! Glad to see the end of the work week. Another friend of ours passed away  - taken too soon as cancer does. They are good people and I can never figure out why this happens. My heart is heavy for this family. The only thing I do know is love your loved ones while you can, live life to the fullest and have no regrets. All of the little things we complain about on a daily basis are just that little and not really relevant in the big picture. Sometimes it's wise to reflect and remember how much you have and that you should be grateful - even though they may not necessarily be the things you want.

I'm shy on photos today, the morning birds on my walk consist mostly of Grackles, Blue Jays, Robins and a few Ducks. Hoping this weekend brings me a few more Warblers.


The Grackle has found a high perch from where he can see everything.

I did run into Kate and William at Myrna's. They were feeding with the Ducks.

William is every protective and standing guard.







Enjoy your day!

Day 121 - 1st May 2015 - Hermit Thrush, Pussy Willows and Grandmother's Journal

Welcome May, perhaps you will bring us more warmth and sun. Temperature is +3 this morning. I can hear the Owl way up the lake and the peepers in the cranberry ditch. The sounds of spring. It's Friday, bring on the weekend and some good weather.
Weather was a little better yesterday, but I'm still wearing gloves. Relatively uneventful day, so I got through a number of things. Still only going one step forward and two steps back, or at least it feels that way.
Grandmother's Journal:
1 May 1976: To MC early to stay over night. Beautiful day. Bob, Bettie, boys came up to help Bob plant apple trees. Stayed until dark. Purple finches singing while I planted peas and green onions. Betty and Stan over late evening for an hour. Everyone tired. Birds singing. Partridges are a nuisance. Not as many fishermen today. Mike went up river.
2 May 1976: Two big deer in field at 6:15 this morning. Also Partridge eating apple buds. Raised the devil all day. Came back to town at 6 o'clock. Roads a mess tonight. Tom with us.

Heard the sweetest song yesterday morning and I was walking to meet my ride. Knew right away what he was - the Hermit Thrush.

He may not be as pretty as some of the other song  birds but certainly my favourite.

The Chickadee found himself a nice little perch.

The Robins are popping up everywhere.

Our Pussy Willows did't produce a great show this year.

Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Honey suckle bush.








Enjoy your day!