Day 212 - 31st July 2014 - Cobwebs, Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Hermit Thrush

Well here's good bye to another month. They sure fly by fast. Before you know it, fall will be here and I'll be off for the winter. It's been a strange year, hardly feels like we've gotten anything done - still have wood to do for the winter (but it's coming - just the basement left to do), our garden is not up to it's usual size and we haven't really gotten far this summer. On a up beat I've done some awesome birding and met some new/old friends.
I got my wish yesterday for a few hours of fine weather, the rain didn't start until about 2 pm and boy did it come down hard. Had the Eastlink Internet guy here and he put a higher post on the house - seems to be working well; time will tell. Buzzed around and caught up on some of the house work I didn't get done over the weekend and had a fantastic roam around the hood for a couple of hours. Whipped up a casserole for Thursday and Friday suppers and did pork steak, mashed potatoes and swiss chard from the garden for last night. The Humming Birds have found the Scarlet Runner blooms, I've seen them out there several times today.

A morning made of cobwebs.

 Hollyhocks from a neighbour's yard. She has several different colors and they are stunning.

 A new lifer for me - a female Black-throated Blue Warbler.

 The Chickadees get a little close with the new lens.

Hermit Thrush - saw about four of them.

 Yellow-Rumped Warbler still in striking colors.

Scarlet runner blooms.

Magnolia Warbler. I'm getting closer!









Enjoy your day!

Day 211 - 30th July 2014 - Pickerel Weed, Squirrel and Eiders

Wednesday morning, my day off and I was up too early. Nothing I can do about that but push on throughout the day. Dark out, no stars and the birds are still asleep. Will take my coffee out once dawn comes - love the sounds of the Song Sparrows and others bringing up the sun.  Hoping for a few  hours of sunshine this morning so I can take the big bazooka out into the hood. These days it's hard to get the timing down for when it's good and there are a lot of birds around. I like mornings best anyway and it's been a while since I've had a good tramp around. Guess I better spend some time cleaning up around here too by the looks of things.
My frustration level was high yesterday at work, would really like to figure out how to get our profile raised so at least the locals would know who we are after 27 years. Perhaps I should start carrying a very large stick or maybe people are stupid naturally! I know shake your head - I'm on another rant.  Will continue to persevere, sooner or later we have to make headway. Other than that it was a good day. Beginning to shake off the tiredness left from the weekend. Good thing it's only once/year.

 Pickerel Weed - lots of it along the lake this year. Ironically enough we now have Pickerel in the lake, might be the reason I don't see as many frogs these year. They like to wait among the reeds, etc. near the shoreline.

 Other than a few very quick Chickadees, this was all I saw yesterday morning.

 Looks like Steeple Bush, but my wildflower book says that's usually pink.

 A few photos leftover from the weekend.

 Female Eiders were riding the waves.










Enjoy your day!

Day 210 - 29th July 2014 - Birds and Flowers

Up early but not too bad, I can live with 5 am. Gradually catching up on my sleep. It's dark now in the mornings, you can definitely tell, the sun doesn't rise as early as it used to and a few stars still hanging out. My favourite thing about summer is the early mornings and catching the sun and that doesn't last near long enough.  Chance of some rain later today, hoping I'll get some sunshine tomorrow so I can take the big lens out in search of Warblers. Would love to have had it Monday morning with me.
Well I made it through Monday - they day went fairly well with no unusual occurrences. All good. Boy did it ever rain in the afternoon - not for long but just a torrential downpour. Then the fog and humidity rolled in. Skipped exercise class last night, wasn't up to that much activity and wanted an early night. Class usually hypes me up so that I'm later going to bed.

 This was so bright and beautiful in a neighbour's yard.

 Lots and lots of Pickerel weed.

 There was a whole group of these Black and White Warblers flitting around yesterday morning. Wish I had had my big lens.

Red eyed Vireo.














Enjoy your day!

Day 209 - 28th July 2014 - Willets and Music - The Weekend is Over

Had a great sleep, but really could have, should have gotten a few more hours. Oh well today I will float through the day on automatic pilot.  By tomorrow I'll will have sprung back. Oh the days of youth when you could go night after night without sleep and still function in the morning. Not any more! Looks like we've got some rain coming for today. Things are looking dry so I guess we can use some.
It was a fantabulous (my word for better than fantastic or fabulous) weekend with great old friends and new friends we made. Lots of laughs and more good music on Sunday. I hit the beach first thing in the morning, saw some Willets but not a lot else, didn't hang long, the dog walkers were beginning to appear. We had breakfast at the Legion, then back to the camper to start putting things away and tearing down. Doesn't take long to do clean up. We closed the festival around 3 pm, by that time it was only Sherri and I left, most of the rest of our gang had dispersed earlier one at a time.  Time for us to go too. Thanks girls for the memories, plans have begun for next year. By the time I got home I was close to feeling like a zombie.So tired.

 Willets. The new lens is working out well.

 Another gorgeous morning.

 Playing with the new lens, sometimes you can have fun with things on the beach.

 Belly Dancing was popular this year.

In the afternoon we got to enjoy the songs and talents of the younger ladies who spent a good portion of the weekend in a workshop on song writing. Some we heard last year and wow what a difference from one year to the next. Great to see someone help with up and coming artists.

 Jessie Brown and the Black Divine played several times over the weekend - great group.

And one of our favourites - Irish Mythem










Enjoy your day!

Day 208 - 27th July 2014 - Birds and Musicians - Day 2 in Lockport

Slept in a little longer this morning, but can hear all the birds singing and the sun is rising in Lockeport - another good day ahead. Have had my coffee now time to throw on some clothes and head to beach in search of a few shore birds with the new lens. Another breakfast at the Legion then a few more musical events and we will close up and head home early this afternoon for another year. It`s been a great time.
Another fabulous day in Lockeport! Rah! Weather was perfect - beautiful, sunny with just a spot of breeze but boy did it cool off come evening. Lots of good music, great performances and birds on the beach in the morning.  After I enjoyed an early morning walk on the beach, I headed back to the camper and got most of the rest of the girls up - oh they are a slow bunch early in the morning but in all fairness I do go to bed earlier than the rest. We had a great breakfast at the Legion and then I started off to take photos of some of the various events going on throughout the festival. Took a little break in the afternoon and just chilled in the afternoon back at the camper. Then an evening of more music. The headliner Jully Black didn't disappointed - what a stage presence!

 What an awesome sunrise yesterday morning!

 Dowitchers in flight.

Willet.

 The Secrets - band from Newfoundland. Great voices.

 Irish Mythem, singing us a tune or two.

 Jully Black - fabulous voice and performer.

I'm really not sure how anyone could spend the evening in these stilettos.

 Irish, Kat and Erin did the tribute to Tina Turner last evening, some of her early work and later songs.

Enjoy your day!

Day 207 - 26th July 2014 - Music - First night in Lockeport

Up at 5 am - oh yeah will be a long day, that's for sure. Fought with  the coffee machine (even after a lesson last night) til the bestie got up and got it going for me. What are friends for after all. Probably thinking - this early and no coffee the girl will be truly ugly. It's a fun weekend when just a bunch of girls get together for lots of laughs and bonding. Maybe it's like when men go to the hunting camp.  Will check the tide tables  and in a little bit  - when I see some daylight, I'll head down to the beach and see if there are any shore birds lurking around that I can practice my new lens on. Promises to be another busy day - lots of new and old voices to hear. Jully Black is the headliner this evening which should be awesome. But you know I enjoy hearing some of the up and coming artists from year to year and how they've improved and become stronger in their craft. We have some great local talent.
Had a great day. Took a quick jaunt around the hood with the new lens then finished getting ready. Denna picked me up around 11:30 and we headed off to meet Sherri, load her vehicle and then we were down to Lockeport. We got things situated in the camper, chairs out etc. Some refreshments after our hard work and spend some time and money at the Lockeport Market held every Friday. Lots of great stuff there so if you are in the area check it out. The rest of our group gradually arrived, then it was ready to head to the music and see who was playing. Fabulous evening with some voices we've heard before and some that were new. I didn't hear the last few - too late for me.

 Male and Female Common Yellow throat Warbler.

Early evening side stage - Mother Pluckers.

And Belly Dancers too!

Christine Campbell returned for another year belting out the tunes.

Irish Mythem is a favourite with a fabulous voice and stage presence.

 Kim Harris.

Jessie Brown and the Black Divine.










Enjoy your day!

Day 206 - 25th July 2014 - Grasses, Butterflies and Blue Jays

Up just before 5 am and feeling fine. Everything is working the way it should - rah! and I'm rested. I gave in and went to bed at 8pm last night. After two very early mornings I was zapped. So a few things to finish off this morning - potato pancakes being one that we'll have with a bit of smoked salmon and cream cheese this evening or tomorrow evening. Sounds good. Finish packing, get the rest of my camera gear together and my laptop and then I'm ready to fly on out of here - well drive actually. We'll head down around lunch time. Lockeport has their Market on Friday afternoons and I enjoy checking that out - always some neat things. Am super excited to take photos and hear all the musicians and especially headliner Jully Black, Saturday night.
The 4 am morning and the Sciatica that wouldn't settled down, really wore me out yesterday. By 6 pm I was wanting to go to bed so badly, but held off for fear I'd get up even earlier. On a better note my hip had settle down about 85% by supper time. The best thing  I can is walk and stretch it out.

 A hazy morning.

 I do like all the unusual grasses that grow around the shore line.

 Sometimes you can be too close. Chickadee on the wire.

 Lady's Nodding Tresses.

 Lots of pretty butterflies around.

Blue Jay.












Enjoy your day!