Day 19 - 19th January 2016 - Juncos, Pine Siskins and Blue Jays

Snowing again...beginning to feel a little like last year - lets hope not.  Think I'll putter around the house, do some cooking - maybe a big pot of chili or soup would be good today and a few hours of research. Will check out the hood and Lois' feeders later.
Turned out to be a nice day - not much in the way of sunshine but clear and not too cold. Although before supper it started to snow which lasted several hour developing into white out conditions before it ended. The birds were busy at the feeders all day - Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Chickadees, Goldfinches, Purple Finches, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Pine Siskins and the Junco count is up to 6 now. No headway with the grant applications - have to wait until I get secret codes for one so I can proceed. Did a little research but not what I should have - felt like a bit of  a challenge instead.

One of the Juncos.

Pine Siskin and Goldfinch.

These seems to be a favourite spot of the Chipping Sparrow.

Goldfinch hanging out.

A Blue Jay just finished cracking the sunflower seed open.

Another Junco - a lot more brown on this one - female or immature male.








Enjoy your day!

Day 18 - 18th January 2016 - Snow, Berries and a Chipping Sparrow

Monday morning - not even going to try to figure out the weather after the weekend - all I know is it must be cloud covered out there as  I can't see the moon or stars.  Have to get back on track today, the month is wasting away and I've got grant applications that need to be done and research. So a good part of my day will be spent on those.
Sunday was a day to clean up the snow - thankful to our good neighbour who came over and plowed the driveway when he saw Larry out shoveling. Went to town got groceries, then I did the lunchbox preps, muffins etc. done up while Larry put some more wood in the basement. Got out for a nice morning walk in the hood. Birds are getting more active at the feeders these last few days and I believe the flock of Goldfinches are growing.

 Snow covered branches along the private road.

 The lake was brown and rather ugly so  decided this one would be best in black and white

Just a few berries.

 Chipping Sparrow is still around. Cute little guy.

It's hard to get close to the ducks in the river - Female Hooded Merganser.







Enjoy your day!

Day 17 - 17th January 2016 - Snow and Goldfinhes

Saturday wasn't a day to go anywhere! The weather experts were sure way off on this call. I hope that's the one and only storm we have but somehow I think that's unlikely, I"m sure winter is here for a while.  That is nature! I did manage to get a few loads of laundry done and a little housework. Other than that it was a lazy inside day. Watched the birds coming and going to the feeders. It's interesting to see how some of them start at the highest trees and gradually make their way down to lower ones and finally the feeders. Watchful and alert  or at least I think they are. It was a good day to curl up and read and chat with a few friends on the internet. Oh yes, I ate, and ate and ate some more. Really need to stop that or I soon won't fit into any clothes.
Guess today is for shoveling and getting out. Will try for a trip to town for groceries etc. if the roads are decent. They should be later.

A few shots I took on Thursday.

The snow is peeled back just like the birch bark is sometimes.

I'm amazed that the small twigs can still hold their own.

The Christmas Tree makes a good feeding station.






Enjoy your day!

Day 16 - 16th January 2016 - Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow and the Sun

The Chipping Sparrow is still here, getting a little friendlier too. Seems he gets along nicely with the Chickadees and Goldfinches but the Juncos and Song Sparrow don't appreciate him. Such is nature. Feeders are busy most all day now - usually the big birds - Blue Jays and Mourning Doves ( and Squirrels) eat as much as they can early and then the little ones come in - Goldfinches and Purple Finches. The Chickadees are smart and quickly - grabbing seeds and then disappearing back into the lilac and honeysuckle bushes. The Juncos will hang around the bottom gathering what has been tossed out. It's interesting to watch all the interactions.
No idea what today will bring - the big red warning bars have been removed from the weather sites, but they still forecast freezing rain, rain, snow/rain so who knows.  Larry wants to put more wood in the basement this weekend and I guess grocery shopping will be on the list of fun things to do. Doesn't sound like much excitement here!

Chipping Sparrow.














Song Sparrow.














The sun comes through the snow covered trees.

A little morning bling.







Enjoy your day!

Day 15 - 115th January 2016 - Chipping Sparrow, Juncos, Snow and Grandmother's Journal

Thursday was a little better of a day. It was a good morning to get out in the hood and enjoy the crisp air and nature. It was quiet except for the crunch of snow as I walked - the sunlight and snow provided lots of bling throughout the woods and along the lake. It's the kind of morning that helps to re-balance me. The yard and feeders were busy all day with Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Goldfinches, Chickadees, Purple Finches, Juncos, 1 Song Sparrow and 1 Chipping Sparrow. He was new to the feeders.
Grandmother's Journal:
14 January 1977: 
Very cold below 0 over night. Warmer by noontime. Not too much. Nice sunny day. Winter weather. Cold in the warmer climates this year. Kim here. Bob & Tom to MC. and hunting. Got home 7 o'clock as usual  was very upset. Lucky he had CB set. I call R. Davis. He listens all the time. Had to leave Rindy in woods very worried about her. Took xmas tree down tonight. 
15 January1977: Very cold over night. Overcast most of the day. Bob, Bobbie & Mike in tow vehicles to MC. Rindy was at the camp where Bob thought she might be. He brought her home with him. Kim up for supper and the night. Very cold again tonight. [Rindy was the first dog my Grandfather gave me and had registered in my name. She was a better show dog than hunter. He would have been even more upset if he lost her]

 A new visitor to the feeders today - Chipping Sparrow.

 Dark-eyed Junco, but I believe it's a female. Much lighter in color than the other one.

I tossed some seeds into the Christmas tree this morning when I filled the feeders. Goldfinch and Chipping Sparrow.

Ice and snowflakes.

It was a beautiful morning on the lake.

Nature's q-tips?






Enjoy your day

Day 13 and 14 - 13th and 14th January 2016 - Ice

 I'm doing one of those two day in one posts. Yesterday morning I didn't have internet and truthfully when I got to town I still did not have the heart to write. We are having a rough time in our County, a child loved by everyone has passed away. Dear little Carmen touched many lives and hearts and will be missed and remembered by everyone especially  her family and friends. So today just a few words and photos.

Ice - hard yet fragile. I took these on Tuesday before we were covered in snow once again.

Enjoy your day

Day 12 - 12th January 2016 - Ice and Goldfinch

Stars are all out, can hear an Owl way up the lake. Guess I'll aim to do the things today I couldn't get done yesterday.  Have a ham out to cook for supper - should be good for a couple of nights of leftovers. A little snow last evening has turned everything white once again. Maybe something will pop out of the hood today.
Maybe I shouldn't plan on getting much done on Mondays. Tried to do a grant application - website wasn't working so by the time I got a hold of the fabulous tech in Ottawa it was afternoon, not my time of day to think smart. Tackled some research but hit a brick wall there. The hood was empty of everything - probably because it was so windy the birds were all in hiding. Couldn't even manage to find a Chickadee. Most of the lake has opened back up again after the rain, just a little around the coves.

Cracking ice.

The ice along the shore has caught the grasses and pine spills.

Goldfinch hanging out in the Lilac Bush. Probably waiting for the squirrels to leave the feeders.

Too far to be a good shot but - Common Golden-Eyes down in the river.









Enjoy your day!