Day 120 - 30th April 2013 - Birds, Harbour and Daffodils

Well another month draws to an end. Time flies as they say! Looks likes we are going to have a beautiful sunrise again this morning, I could just see some light coming through the trees when I got up. Thank goodness I don't have to go quite as early today, found it makes for a long day when I leave here shortly after 7am. Hopefully I'll get into the swing of things, get a bit of work done in morning before going.
Survived my first day back, officially I am not open to the public on Mondays for a while - after being off for almost 6 months I need a day  in the dark to get some of the huge backlog that has accumulated cleared up. It was beautiful yesterday, and really hard to go back inside after I had been out at lunch time. Exercise class last night, a good work out although my head and feet didn't feel like they were working together. Some things I just don't seem to figure out! So long as I keep the feet moving they will catch on sooner or later. Maybe I'm just not co-ordinated! Larry worked in the "kitchen garden" boxes after supper, two look like they are all ready to plant in just one more to finish off.

 This Starling was singing his heart out yesterday morning on the waterfront.

 A loon still in his winter colors having breakfast.

 Looking down the harbour.

 The Purple Finches came up to the deck feeder to greet me when I came home last night.

Bird Chat

 These Daffodils are growing on a stone wall.

This sight was on our travels Sunday - so peaceful looking, a place to enjoy the birds.


















Time for me to get moving. Enjoy your day!

Day 119 - 29th April 2013 - Bling, Birds and Flowers

Well it's Monday and I'm back to work. Going to be really hard to be inside all day after this last week at home - outside in the sunshine. Think it will take me a week or so to get back in the swing of things. I have no idea where to start this morning so today will probably one of those - sort things out, etc. All sounds like fun. Am going in early this morning, then will start travelling with Nancy tomorrow. That gives me some extra time in the mornings to get a few things done at home.
Sunday was a repeat in the weather department of Saturday, only warmer. At one point in the afternoon I checked and the thermometer read +21.7 - that to me says summer! Larry went off to the woods, Lexi and I  roamed the hood, did some inside work in the morning, cooked a roast for supper and then some outside work. When Larry got home we had an early supper and drove to Upper Clyde in search of birds. We didn't have much luck but it was a nice evening and Lexi had a good run.

I took this yesterday morning, love the way the sunlight on the lake creates a bit of "bling".

 Mr. Flicker decides to jump on the suet holder while the Woodpecker was on it...

 He missed!

 And falls.

But regains his composure.

 Goldfinches at the feeder.

 A pair of Ring Necked Ducks.

 Female Evening Grosbeaks.

 Irene's Daffodils.

Lexi spotted this Ruffled Grouse on the way home.












Time for coffee. Enjoy your day!

Day 118 - 28th April 2013 - Birds, Turtles and Frog

Chilly this morning, +0.6, but a beautiful sunrise. Yes I should have gone taken some photos but sorry without at least one cup of coffee I can't move that far. So I'm thinking today won't be much different than yesterday, Larry's off to do work on a camp then some trouting. I have a roast out for supper - not taking any chances on what they will catch. Lexi and I will hang out in the hood.
Two beautiful, sunny days in a row. Lexi and I spent lots of time outside yesterday either in the yard or roaming the hood. I did a little extra roaming on my own as I wanted to check out a few places around the other lake to see if I could sight the geese, but no luck. I did see three turtles sunning themselves on various rocks and a couple of Mallard drakes, guessing the females are on a nest. Got laundry caught up before going out and a few other household chores. Off to town after supper for groceries at the one (NOT) fabulous store we have that has rearranged all the aisles and has nothing in them anyway!

 My morning song from the Song Sparrow.

 The only bird - Robin, that Lexi chases - she never catches them though.

 Myrtle Warbler was in the woods yesterday morning.

 Purple Finches were in and out all day.

 One of the turtles I saw, sunning himself.

 Love the branches when they are budding out.

 My first frog sighting of the spring season.

 Lots of Song Sparrows around.

 William in for lunch, I saw Kate flying over around 7:30 in the morning.

 The female Purple Finch showed up yesterday.

Lois' Vinca.














Enjoy your day!

Day 117 - 27th April 2013 - Birds and Flowers

Little nippy this morning, temperature is -0.4 but it promises to warm up to +12. It's always warmer than they forecast so should be nice day. Can't believe at 5:30 am you can see some daylight. Seems like it wasn't that long ago and we left home in the dark and came home at supper time in the dark. It's so great to have the longer days. Larry is off to a fire fighter's course for most of the day which will leave Lexi and I to our own devices. No great plans here, will take things as they come. Hopefully we find something interesting around the hood today!
It was a gorgeous in the country yesterday. Sun shone brightly with only a little wind. Got some minor housework done in the morning, then Lexi and I spent most of the rest of the day outside. We weren't terribly productive, did do some weeding but mostly we hunted for birds around the hood and in the yard. Saw my first turtle in the morning, sunning himself on a rock in the lake - spring must be here for sure! In the afternoon we were sitting on the deck taking photos at the feeder and saw some larger birds flying overhead, circling around the yard. Of course I was snapping away, hoping to get some decent pics and find out what they were. I thought hawks of some sort - probably planning to check out my feeders for tasty little birds for lunch. Guess I fooled them. It was my last Friday home for a while, hopefully I'll snag a few this summer when I have a student and can switch a day around now and then.

 Little goldfinch in the woods.

 A Red Poll and Purple finch were both back to visit.

 Mrs. Flicker - notice she has no mustache.

 Forsythia.

 This little Chickadee nearly ran me down.

 Yeah! The first turtle of the season. So be careful driving in the country you will soon see them on the roads looking for places to lay their eggs on the shoulders in the dirt.

 Can't decide if they are trying to feed one another or are in a spat!

 Nice to see sharing - the Chickadee and Mr. Flicker at the suet.

 A female Downy Woodpecker.

 Clouds were nice and fluffy.

 For those of you tired of birds...daffodils.

 White Breasted Nuthatch tossed out the small seeds in favour of a sunflower seed.

One of the Broad Wing Hawks that visited me.



















Time for my coffee. Enjoy your day!

Day 116 - 26th April 2013 - Birds, Webs, Lexi and the Sunset

It's Friday which means the weekend is just within our grasp, and also means that going back to work for me is right around the corner. Temperature is mild this morning at +6.6.  Well I've not won the lottery so guess it's back I go. Will sure miss my kitchen window views and our constant roaming the hood. Hoping when Kate and William bring out their young it's on a weekend. Looks like it's going to be sunny for the next few days. I guess it will be mostly an outside day for us today!
Thursday was a damp, dismal overcast day. Everything was pretty quiet around the hood and feeders - maybe I only have fine weather birds. Did run into William having an early lunch when we stopped to have tea at Lois' and catch up on the news of birds and things. She's been in the city for a few days and was lucky enough to see eagles, ospreys and geese but had forgotten her camera at home. Larry is sure mine is a piece of large jewellery that hangs from my neck most of the time. I truly hate to be caught without it. Stir fry for supper - nice change and 1 pot cooking (actually wok) - tired of doing dishes!

 The faithful Flicker stopped by in the morning. Larry picked up more suet for him.

 Trees are budding out.

 Pussy willows have gone to seed for another year. But I see the wild violet leaves are popping through the ground.

 William joined us for tea in the morning.

 Daffodils in shaded areas haven't bloomed yet but a few more fine days and they will be open.

 Lexi's idea of wading.

 She enjoys looking over the lake.

Nature's fancy weavers.

Couldn't resist catching the sun setting through the trees after I got home from exercise class.












Time to finish my coffee. Enjoy your day!