Day 60 - 29th February 2016 - Cardinal, Rosehips and Sailboats

It's leap year and the end of the second month. Hard to believe they've passed so quickly. I'm off to town this morning - a few things to do that won't wait til my regular Wednesday. Will also try to get a Dr's appointment for Larry to have his knee re-assessed for work. He'll come in later and we'll watch the boat get launched at noon. Exercise class tonight.
We had a marvelous day, Sunday, even though I didn't get a lot of great shots. Guess I was too busy thinking about eating, eating and then thinking maybe I've eaten too much. Had brunch at Argyle Lodge with family - oh it was so good, then a stop back at Kait and Tyler's to check out their place. Good birding spot. Finished up grocery shopping at No Frills in Barrington.

I spent a 1/2 hour in Mom and Dad's driveway yesterday morning trying to convince this Cardinal to come out of the bushes. Well his Missus appeared and he finally flew up on the neighbour's roof.

An old bicycle wheel on our travels.

Sailboats at Argyle waiting for Spring.

Rosehips in the garden.

And you can always find a Chickadee if nothing else.









Enjoy your day!

Day 59 - 28th February 2016 - Mallard, Ice and Woodpeckers

Finally the day we are going to Brunch in Argyle. Been waiting way too long for this outing. Looks like it's going to warm up a little today as well.  Maybe Larry and I will leave a bit early and take a few detours for birding on the way up. Going to stop and do the rest of my grocery shopping on the way home in Barrington. Saturday was nice but chilly. We went to town and did a few errands. Had plans to watch the boat being taken out of the shop but Larry got cold after waiting a while so we headed back home. We'll go back when she's launched in the water. I went for a walk in the afternoon and had tea with Lois.  Feeders were not the flurry of activity they have been. Soon we should see something different, I hope.

Female Mallard, the male was not far away.

Still a little bling ice on a few branches by the shoreline.

Female Downy Woodpecker.

Female Hairy Woodpecker - guess it was ladies day!








Enjoy your day!

Day 58 - 27th February 2016 - Canada Geese, Mallards and Ice

 Brr... it's cold out there this morning with the odd snowflake in the air. Going to warm up again for the next week. More spring weather on it's way. It' Saturday, guess we'll take a jaunt to town. Larry's hobbling around a bit better, but I'm not seeing him working come Monday. Don't think it's healed that much but we'll wait and see.
Friday was a little chillier and a few snow/hail squalls but nothing that lasted more than a couple of minutes. I managed a good walk along the lake. Not much for birds but there were a few Mallards and discovered a couple of Geese having breakfast at Myrna's. There had been 6 earlier but when I got there only 2. Hopefully they will find a nesting spot in Beaverfarm Lake again this year. Had a large flock of Goldfinches and Pine Siskins in the yard late in the afternoon, also about 6 Juncos and the White-Throated Sparrow. A number of Purple Finches hung out in the apple tree.

Could they be our Lake Canada Geese William and Kate? I hope so.

Another day or two and the Pussy Willows will be opened.

Mallards have begun to pair up.
















Just a little ice in some coves - soon to be gone too.







Enjoy your day!

Day 57 - 26th February 2016 - Pine Siskins, Blue Jays and Goldfinch

Hard to believe it's near the end of February and we had a day with no fire in the furnace - it was just to warm. Gotta love it! Thursday was plenty mild, but rainy and windy all day, not like you could get out and do anything. I think we are both getting a little shack wacky. Larry's getting more mobile each day, thank goodness, but still not bearing full weight. The one thing he's learned is that yes exercise is important with his diabetes. His sugars has been up some with this lack of activity. Nothing serious but not where it should be. I experimented with a healthier pizza yesterday afternoon. Made a whole wheat crust instead of my normal white crust, homemade sauce, chicken, spinach, ground lean pork, broccoli, onions and light cheese. It was a hit and we've got leftovers for tonight. Birds were in and out of the feeders - not as many as usual unless you count the BlueJays. Not quite as mild this morning, but still not bad for "winter". The lake is all open and ducks are around. Hoping to get out this morning for a roam.

It was wet bird day - Pine Siskins.

A day to take pics through the kitchen window - BlueJays.

Goldfinch.

More Blue Jays







Enjoy your day!

Day 56 - 25th February 2016 - Fast Water and a Chickadee

Wow is it ever warm out there this morning. Pretty tropical feeling.  Guess I won't need to build a fire in the furnace too soon - probably later because of the dampness.  Thinking it's going to be a housework/ kitchen kind of day in between playing nursemaid.  More rain on the way so it won't be much of a day for roaming. A wet and nasty Wednesday with more of the same to come today. Larry is progressing better than expected, if all goes well he'll be back to work and out of my hair (I do love him) on Monday. We had a very positive visit at the Diabetic Clinic in the afternoon - this is such a great resource especially when you are new to the disease. Both the ladies are so helpful. Large flock of Goldfinches, Purple Finches and Pine Siskins (about 100) were in and out of the feeders and trees on and off most of the day.

I took a lot of shots by the Barrington Woolen Mill the other day.

Rushing Water reminds me of Spring.

Fast and furious it flows.

Always a Chickadee somewhere.










Enjoy your day!

Day 55 - 24th February 2016 - Surf, Gull and Daffodils

Normally Wednesday is my town day, but not this week.Better sleep (longer) last night - I'll be ready to take on the day after my coffee. Dear hubby hurt his knee Monday afternoon so we spend part of Tuesday morning at Outpatients. We missed the open hours on Monday so rather than go to Liverpool or Yarmouth and sit most of the night we opted to stay home and hopefully get some rest. Didn't really work well I was up at 3:15am. Anyway, happy to report that it wasn't broken (our greatest fear) but pulled ligaments and some soft tissue so he's home with me this week while I wait on him hand and foot and he stays off of it. One day of  "can you, would you" and I'm exhausted. Oh well, I'm grateful and thankful it wasn't any worse. Needless to say not a lot of time with Big B. Although there were lots of the regular birds in and out of the feeders.

Lots of surf at Baccaro the other day.

Herring Gull.

I love the looked of dried flowers.

Each day the Daffodils are growing.








Enjoy your day!

Day 54 - 23rd February 2016 - Pine Siskins, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Chipping Sparrows

Each day the weather gets better - a little chilly Monday but the sun warmed  you quickly when you stood in it's rays. Whatever bad weather comes now will be short lived - the lake is running freely with just ice in the coves.  The Canada Geese flew over yesterday and had breakfast at Myrna's, later I heard them going back up the lake. Beautiful full moon and starlight night, of course it still is this morning but I'm up way earlier than any normal person should be. It's going to be a very long day.

 I was talking on the phone and taking pics of the Pine Siskins and Goldfinches at the feeder when.....

 all of a sudden they were gone and this handsome fellow appeared. He posed while I took photos and we looked at one another through the kitchen window.  Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

Then he slowly turned around and flew into the Honeysuckle bush.

 The Chipping Sparrow rarely misses a day.

 Blue water and not much ice.








Enjoy your ay!

Day 53 - 22nd February 2016 - Mergansers, Canada Geese and Bubbles

Here we are at Monday again, mild morning and the Owl is hooting up the road. Going to be a busy week wrapping up some projects and jobs that need to be done by the end of the month. Today looks to be one of the few nice days this week - mostly rain on it's way. The rest of the lake should open up. There is just ice in the coves now. Even if we get a few cold days, the lake won't freeze up much.
Sunday turned out really nice with a high of +10. Nothing wrong with that in February. Had a good little road trip in the morning. Headed down to Baccaro - Hooded Mergansers, Common Merganser, Black Ducks, Buffleheads, Mallards, Gulls and Canada Geese in the ponds and waterways along the road. The surf was up and no matter where you went people were parked and watching the waves. Pretty quiet on Cape Sable Island when we got there - nothing exciting - Gulls and a few Common Eiders. Stopped in Barrington and did the rest of our grocery shopping, then had our packed lunch by the Old Woolen Mill before heading home.

A pair of Hooded Mergansers at Clyde River near the Golf Course.

Common Merganser taking some time out to preen.

Three female and 2 male Bufflehead. They were still quite far away and I had to crop the shot.
















There were a large flock of Canada Geese at Reynoldscroft.  This one found breakfast.

Bubbles by the Old Woolen Mill. The water was moving fast.

Enjoy your day!

Day 52 - 21st February 2016 - Sunrise and Purple Finches

Daylight arrived Saturday morning with a fiery blast. Bright red and yellow hues in the east and softer pinks reflected in the west. Larry did get some more wood thrown in the basement, I puttered around doing laundry, etc. We headed in to town to do some shopping and errands by late morning. Before noon the air had gotten colder with snow flurries although by late afternoon it had changed over to rain. I'm seriously thinking that we need to change our grocery routine. What is the point in going to a store that has empty shelves and over priced bad fruits and vegetables. So I think today will be a trip to Cape Sable Island - a wander around the wharves, etc. to see what might be there with a stop to Barrington to buy the food I could not get in Shelburne.  I guess shopping locally is still within the County.

I caught the change over through the trees.

The sky was glowing with color.















And the Purple Finches matched the sky.

Male Purple Finch with Goldfinches.











Enjoy your day!

Day 51 - 20th February 2016 - Pine Siskins, Chickadee and White-Throated Sparrow

A chill in the air this morning but no wind. The stars have disappeared in the last hour since I've been up. I guess it's going to be a day to throw more wood in the basement - last weekend was too cold. Suppose to be wet snow/rain this afternoon but no amount so we'll leave that time to do some errands in town. Maybe tomorrow it will be fine and we can do some birding.
Another nice spring day Friday (fingers crossed I don't jinx it), with just a little chill in the air. I'm enjoying seeing new growth sprout through the ground. Didn't quite get done what I expected to yesterday - distractions and other projects crop up in my mind. The birds aren't so anxious at the feeders - smaller flocks of Goldfinches and Purple Finches visit, however, there seems to be a number of Pine Siskins. The Chipping Sparrow still returns as does the White Throated Sparrow.

Not a great shot but you can see the yellow nicely on the wings of the Pine Siskins.

The Chickadees don't sit still too long for photo shoots but this little one paused for a moment.












Mayflower leaves - maybe I should have prodded a bit to see if there were flower buds hiding beneath.

The White-Throated Sparrow looks like the "angry bird" or maybe he's just bored.








Enjoy your day!

Day 50 - 19th February 2016 - Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee and Woodpecker

Woke up this morning thinking it was the weekend and realized it was still only Friday as I was half way down stairs. Guess it doesn't make much difference but I was looking forward to some birding time Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting. Got the new Diabetes cookbooks I ordered on line, so today I'm going to browse through those and see if there is anything exciting to make before I do up a grocery list. The freezer is well stocked so I shouldn't have to worry too much - maybe just a few extra ingredients.  Of course I still have the tail ends of a couple of projects I should finish up.
I can get use to these fine, mild days. Thursday was another winner for weather, although we are having a "spring thaw" which makes gravel roads pretty rutted up and nasty. I switched internet providers yesterday, in the hopes that I can have less hassle and quicker speeds. I'm sure it won't be worse than what I've dealt with for the last 5-6 years. Time will tell. Feeders are not so busy with warm weather - although there were a small flock of Pine Siskins around, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves a few Goldfinches and Purple Finches, lot of Chickadees and a Red- Breasted Nuthatch has settled in these last few days. The woods were full of Woodpeckers when I went for my morning walk. You could hear them all through the woods.

Female Red-breasted Nuthatch - the closest I've managed to get to one.















The Chickadees usually don't care where you are.

Morning frost.

Female Woodpecker at Lois' feeders.

And the spring bulbs are bursting forth.







Enjoy your day!

Day 49 - 18th February 2016 - Sun, Chipping Sparrow and Purple Finch

Thursday - I've got lots to do at home but should be a decent day so will get some roaming in too. Although I don't see much these days. Little chilly out there this morning with frost glistening on the deck and grass in the moon light.
Another busy Wednesday in town. Highlights - lunch at the Beandock and new walking/birding sneakers from Gosbee's Sporting Goods. Beautiful evening on the deck - moon was out, stars were shining and no wind. Maybe spring is in the air. An Owl was hooting up on the hill - maybe two but it echoed around the lake so hard to tell. The days are getting longer which is nice, now if daylight would just come a little earlier in the mornings.

The Phlox seed pods are empty now, time to cut them down and wait for new growth. I leave them into the winter for the birds.

The sun has more strength each day it shines.

The Chipping Sparrow has made this his winter home.

And the Purple Finches with their bright raspberry coloring are welcome, adding a bright spot to the feeders.







Enjoy your day!