Day 112 - 22nd April 2015 - Sunrise, Song Sparrow, Eiders and a Window

On my day off I get up early, oh well, good chance to catch up on laundry, etc. and then hit the hood looking for Warblers. Lots to do but I'm going to take some time to go birding, even if it's only as far as my feet will take me. Suppose to be a nice day, temperature is +8. Can hear the peepers and an Owl this morning, but no stars out.
I definitely got wet a good many times yesterday. I know it's not snow, you don't have to shovel, yada yada, but it's cold and miserable this time of year. Am beginning to move into the swing of the routine once again. Will be glad when I don't have to travel in early with Larry and can get my morning walks in though. I did see a Palm Warbler when I had Lexi out after I got home - of course it was...raining but I'll catch him!

A Song Sparrow hiding in the alders as the sun came up.

Another sunrise photo at Freeport, NS.

Peter's Island in the background, mud flats at low tide in front, early in the morning

An interesting collection of items in this window.

The rock formation at Beautiful Cove.

A pair of Common Eiders.








Enjoy your day!

Day 111 - 21st April 2015 - Yellow-rumped Warbler, Evening Grosbeaks and Red-breasted Nuthatch

Mild this morning but going to be a day for rubber boots and puddle jumping. Rainfall warning in effect and perhaps some flooding issues since the weather sites say the ground is saturated already with water. Can't do much about nature, but the rain and the wind should finish up the snow that's around and move the rest of the ice down out of the lakes. Hoping I can get lots done at the office today.
I had forgotten how much I dislike Mondays, they are so rushed. Guess I'll get into the swing of things soon enough. And it's really hard getting used to be caged in an office all day and not being able to roam the hood when I want. Oh well it's the life of a grown up  - work = pay bills, start all over again! HA!HA! By next Monday I'll be settled in for the season once again. Home, quick supper and then off to exercise class. I'll be in pain the next few days I'm sure!

Male and female Evening Grosbeak.

Female Purple Finch.

You can see the flash of color on this Mallard's wing.

Red-breasted Nuthatch.

The highlight of my day, Yellow-rumped Warbler dressed in his summer suit.

My first Warbler of the season was visiting at Lois' yesterday. I got him after supper.

Can't wait to go searching for more on Wednesday when I'm off.








Enjoy your day!

Day 110 - 20th April 2015 - Sunrise, Red-wing Blackbird and Green-wing Teals

Monday morning - ugh, I'm back to work. Where did the time go. Seems I didn't get near as much stuff done as I wanted to these last few months. Oh well it is what it is. Dr's appointment with my new Doctor first thing then I can start the work day. It's one of those meet and greet things. Exercise class tonight. Hoping for a good day overall, suppose to be sunny. That will make it more difficult to get back in the swing of things.
I got a good walk in along the shore and through part of the village before we packed up to go yesterday morning. We went to the Freeport Firemen's Breakfast then headed to Tiverton to catch the 10 am ferry over to East Ferry and head home. A few breaks along the way and we were home shortly after 1 pm. It's always nice to get home, but our visit wasn't long enough. Of course while I was gone Lois' had 3 different Warblers in her yard. Made a batch of muffins for Larry's lunches, put together salads and hauled something out of the freezer for his main portion. Glad I have things ahead for just this kind of day. Cooked a roast for supper for Monday and Tuesday nights and I put Larry in charge of cooking some chicken thighs for last night. Lexi was a trooper and settled in to the back seat for the whole trip. This was quite an accomplishment for our diva!

No matter where you are - you should get up early. Best time of the day.

 Took these sunrises in Freeport yesterday morning.

 Managed to get a couple of better shots of the male and female Green wing Teals

 The Red-wing Blackbird was singing away!

 Part of the village bathed in the morning sun.

 I spooked a Great Blue Heron from a pond.

Another red fish shack.

A pair of Mallards enjoying some morning quiet.








Enjoy your day!

Day 109 - 19th April 2015 - Tree Swallows, Killdeer, Pussy Willows and Dandelions

So the weather man was off kilter again, no snow out there this morning, thank goodness. I can hear peepers and a couple of birds chirping even though it's not daylight yet. But it's soon coming. Needless to say I'm the only one up. The Freeport Firemen's breakfast is this morning so we'll hit that before going on our way. Seems like we just got here and it's time to turn around and go home. Just the same it was nice to escape for a night and we love coming here.
Had a great trip up to the Island, quiet on the roads yesterday morning as we made our journey. Spotted an Eagle in Weymouth as well as a number of Tree Sparrows. Caught the 10:30 am ferry over. We got settled in and had lunch - Dorothy made her wonderful seafood chowder.  Boy it was good - no diet this weekend! Then I went for a roam around. Mostly ducks, gulls, lots of tree sparrows and a couple of new lifers - Killdeer and Bufflehead Duck. No warblers once again. We took Lexi and went to Beautiful Cove and drove around the village to see if we could find anything interesting.We all went over to Mary and Gerald's for supper - was nice to visit with them again. Lexi and I walked back, flushed out a Pheasant and of course I had no camera with me that time.

Tree Swallows in Weymouth. There are lots in Freeport, I watched them down at the shore - duck and dive catching flies and bugs.

Boar's Head Light at Tiverton.

Female Bufflehead Duck in a pond at Tiverton. There were also lots at Freeport.

The male Bufflehead.

They have Dandelions in bloom.

Skunk cabbage - the first flower of spring, Roger tells me. Although I think this year it bloomed under the snow. I don't remember seeing any at home.

Not a great shot - but they are a Male and Female Green Wing Teal.

Pussy Willows - I've yet to find any at home yet. So I'm guessing the Island must be  a little ahead of us in the season.

The Killdeer in flight. Never sure why my lifers are never great shots, but they are good enough for an ID.

 Peter's Island with the light way in the background.

I like the bright red of this building, I assume it's some kind of work/fish shack.







Enjoy your day!

Day 108 - 18th April 2015 - Canada Geese, Song Sparrow and Crocuses

Road trip! It's been months since we've actually gotten away. We're heading to Freeport to visit friends and I'm hoping to get a little birding in there. That's Nova Scotia, not Maine. Am looking forward to this little adventure. Stars are out this morning, but it's foggy.  Temperature is +4, I can hear an Owl up the road and a peeper in the cranberry ditch. I love the sounds of morning.
The rain didn't start yesterday til after lunch, so I got out for my morning walk then took Lexi for a run. Pretty quiet in my patch, no sign of sound of any warblers here. Put together a "death by chocolate" trifle to take with us for dessert Saturday night and packed a bag for the night. Not a terribly interesting day, other than that just a few things around the house that needed finishing up.

A couple of Canada Geese flying overhead. There were about 12 of them all together.

Song Sparrow - no way was he coming out from the branches but he sang a sweet song.

Finally we can see some water, best sight ever. Hopefully in a few more days it will be all clear.

Another burst of color in my yard.

The Chickadees are everywhere.

Enjoy your day!

Day 107 - 17th April 2015 - Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches and Grandmother's Journal

Temperature is 0 and the stars area all out. Rain this afternoon, so I'll take advantage of the fine weather this morning and stay out side as much as I can. A few things to do around the house but that can wait til the rain arrives later.
Not quiet as warm yesterday, only +12 and the wind was chilly. But I ventured out on the deck;
enjoyed the sun and all the birds that were singing. The pair of Mallards seem to be regular visitors, they had a little snooze in the morning next to the deck fence, roamed around the yard several times throughout the day. The Purple Finches are arriving, had one late in the afternoon. No sign of Palm Warblers on my morning walk though. The lake has opened up - quite a wide swath through the centre - won't be long now and the ice will all be gone.
Grandmother's Journal: 
17th April 1976: Bob, Tom and I to MC, stayed overnight. Bobbie & Mike up. Bobbie helped Bob with the trees. Mike went fishing. Always the big ones get away. Mike took boat up river, no fish, only small ones. Maybe he doesn't know where to fish. Very warm. All time high for this time of year. Lots of fishermen around. Cleaned cupboards. Washed doors, etc. 
18 Apr 1976: Bettie, Bobbie and Mike came up around noon time. Bobbie helped with tree holes. Mike fished. Went down home when we got back to town. Ruth and Mother taken off to pick Jimmie up at airport. Swallows sitting on back of house chattering, looking for [bird] house which had fallen down during wind storm. 
19th Apr 1976: Overcast early. Turned out fine. Not as warm. Southerly wind felt like fog outside. Permanent today. Bob, Bobbie, Mike and Tom to MC working on tree holes. 1st Kinglet. Big Brown Snake. 

Evening Grosbeaks - no sign of females yet but these males are certainly beautiful.

The Starlings are trying to decide who will nest in the telephone pole this year.

On my walk - Chickadees are everywhere.

They were keeping company with a few Goldfinches.

Another bunch of Crocuses have popped through the ground. Only Monday this was all covered in snow.

Bits and pieces of ice along the shore line. But it's opening up.

Male Purprle Finch.







Enjoy your day!

Day 106 - 16th April 2015 - Harbour, Loons and Ducks

Too early this morning, shoulder was playing up most of the night so not a great sleep for sure. Temperature is -1, a bit chilly in the house. Should warm up later and be another nice sunny day. I see some deck time for me today. The last of my days home before it's time to go back to work for the season. I'll finish up a few things around the house this morning, catch up on some laundry. Think I'll  take a roam around the hood and see if any Warblers have landed here yet, they are arriving.
Another perfect spring day! Might have been just a tad better if I had been home and not in town, but that's the way things go. I think it must have been a busy day at the feeders since they were cleaned out when we got home. Mr & Mrs. Mallard were back in the yard. Another neighbour saw them in the cranberry ditch - guess they are tired of waiting for the lake to clear. I took Big B. to town with me, first time she's gone all winter. It was nice to catch the harbour in the morning light. Got my hair cut - feels so much better. Home for leftover soup and a lazy evening.

Looking down King Street at the Harbour.

Mallards enjoying an early morning swim.

A gull begins his landing.

I like the soft colors and stillness in the sky and harbour yesterday morning.

The Sandy Point Light.

Looks like this Loon has his summer plummage.







Enjoy your day!