Day 151 - 31st May 2018 - Cedar Waxwings, Bleeding Hearts and a Tern

Good bye to May, another month gone but summer is rolling in. Days are certainly warmer and so nice. Just a little nippy this morning, not sure but some places may get a slight frost. Robin and Song Sparrow are singing in the yard. It's going to be another beautiful day. The Terns in the harbour didn't co-operate yesterday. When I had my camera they were way near the other side, when I didn't have Big B. they near Dock Street. I'll get them today. Well it's the last day of Lobster fishing for this season, traps will be hauled in today and for us our last day before our season begins. Tomorrow the doors open for visitors - we'll be ready. We worked hard yesterday but got a nice treat - a trip to the Black Loyalist Centre for a tour. Nice to go as a group and the centre was great to see. Today a few more cool things among the hard work of getting things finished up - some are going Kayaking with Candlebox Kayaking and later this afternoon we've got a potluck and a walking tour.

Cedar Waxwings
True Romance - feeding her petals

Bleeding Hearts

Not a great photo - Tern








Enjoy your day!

Day 150 - 30th May 2018 - Dandelions, Ovenbird and Cedar Waxwing

I can see daylight coming through the trees, not so easy now as they are all leaved out and almost like a wall against the horizon. Looks like a beautiful warm day on it's way. Yesterday it started it out drizzly but soon turned warm with the sun out. I dressed for damp and cooler and was hot all day. Hard to get it right some times. Only another couple of days before we open for the season. Looks like things are coming together and we'll be all set. There's been some Terns hanging along the waterfront the last few days, I'm in early today with Larry so think I'll take Big B along to see if I can get some shots. I've also seen a few Yellow Warblers around the Beandock and Maiden Lane. Although I prefer roaming in the country, I get my walk in town this morning.

Dandelions

Ovenbird

Cedar Waxwing





Enjoy your day!

Day 149 - 29th May 2018 - Cedar Waxwings, Lupins and Wild Strawberries

Well we never did get the "chance of showers" yesterday but it looks like we had a few during the night. I suppose they'll forecast that for the next 3 months. It's overcast this morning. Can hear all the sounds of the new day starting - quacking, chirping singing and hooting in the distance. Good way to wake up. Work is progressing well, things are getting done and we'll open this Friday for the season.  Didn't see much on my walk, Monday morning. For some reason it's pretty quiet lately no matter what time of day I go. Heard Red Eyed Vireos and Song Sparrows.
Grandmother's Journal:
29 May 1977 - After the rain, a beautiful day with big clouds. Lovely not too hot. Bobbie & Bettie brought Mike up for the week while they're away to Windsor on course. Gertrude, Reggie over, had dessert with us.
30 May 1977 - Beautiful morning and day. Rather cool wind. To town early, (Bob,Mike and I). Am upset, had a top stolen in the store this morning. Over to lay crib with Gertrude, she won 2 games. Barb & Judy down for water. Four boys in canoes going down river - making a racket. Beautiful moonlit night.

Cedar Waxwings

Lupins will soon be in bloom

Wild Strawberry Blossms









Enjoy your day!

Day 148 - 28th May 2018 - Ovenbird, Hummingbird and Northern Parula

Here is another month creeping by, only a few more days left. Sunday turned out nice but a little chilly in the wind. I don't mind it too much but some do. Monday again, off to work. Forecast says chance of showers today, kind of looks like it might. We can use some rain. The lake has dropped, swamps don't have much water and the cranberry ditch has dried up. I hate the thought of going through a dry summer like we did a few years ago. I confirmed there are two Catbirds in the yard, hoping they are going to nest. They are very vocal - singing away most of the day. We had the Cedar Waxwings in the apple trees eating blossoms most of the day. The day kind of got away from us and we didn't get anywhere much for birding. Went in town after supper for ice cream and did run down to the Industrial Park, but it was windy and quiet. I roamed the hood and the yard after I got some work done around home.

Finally I caught the Ovenbird. I got ready for him, knowing he's always in the same area.

Hummingbird has that "angry bird" look

Northern Parula - he was still in the apple blossoms at dark.






Enjoy your day!

Day 147 - 27th May 2018 - Yellow Warbler, American Redstart and Alder Flycatcher

Beautiful day out there! Instead of Song Sparrows serenading me this morning, I have the Catbird singing - what a voice on that guy. He sang all afternoon on Saturday while Larry was out working in his garden. Looks like he's taken up residence in the honeysuckle bush. I'm not sure yet if there is one or two. We went down to the Industrial Park and roamed around for a couple of hours after breakfast. It's beginning to get livelier there. Always a good spot for Warblers.  There were lots of Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, Grey Catbirds, Chickadees, Goldfinches and Song Sparrows. Saw a few Common Yellowthroats and an Alder Flycatcher. Larry spent the afternoon in the garden, I went for a roam and had tea with Lois, the puttered around the house some. Went down to play marbles last night and there was a good size bear in the road. He looked around then wandered off in the woods. It's that time of year when they are out and looking for food. Larry has to work the Fire Hall breakfast this morning, so I'll do some stuff around here. Maybe we'll have an early supper and then go birding for a few hours.

Yellow Warbler

 Female Yellow Warbler

 American Redstart

Alder Warbler






Enjoy your day!

Day146 - 26th May 2018 - Chickadees and a Catbird

Quiet this morning, other than a few Ducks quacking and Crows cawing. Mild and overcast. No wind at all, seems odd most days we have at least a breeze, but I'm not complaining.  Spoke too soon, a little sway of the trees in the last half hour. Since our apple trees have come in bloom they are a host to bees, Northern Parulas, Nuthatches and other birds. Haven't seen the Cedar Waxwings yet, they usually make an appearance for a few days filling their bellies.  Rain /showers for today but since I'm off, going birding anyway. Will dress Big B. in her rain jacket and spend a few hours seeing what's around. No idea where we'll go. Should check out the Industrial Park. Friday went fast, we are busy getting things in shape and it's progressing well. Good group to work with as we all help one another. We played marbles last night and he shall who remain nameless won!

Gathering nesting supplies - this little Chickadee sure has a mouth full.

 I had my ISO too low, but it makes for a cool pic

And the Catbird.






Enjoy your day!

Day 145 - 25th May 2018 - Catbird, Goldfinch and Butterfly

Glad it's Friday, ready for a few days off . Not looking so nice out there this morning - cloudy and overcast. A few showers forecast for this morning. Owls are very vocal down the road - talking back and forth to one another. It's hard getting back into the swing of a structure day. Thursday was a beautiful day - sun was warm but the wind a bit cool, that's ok with me though. Saw a Blue Headed Vireo yesterday morning on my walk, but no way was he coming down out of those trees close enough for the camera to get a good shot.  Seems to be a few more birds around the hood but not what I should be seeing. Although I was really perked up with the arrival of a Catbird in the yard. They are such funny birds. Did some quick grocery shopping on the way home, so that chore is done.  So, no Thelma & Louise day but we'll still be playing marbles tonight.

Catbird

Goldfinch in the apple tree - there are still a few around with out the feeders, finding lots of food from nature

Not sure what kind of Butterfly.





Enjoy your day

Day 144 - 24th May 2018 - Magnolia Warbler, Pollen and Dandelions

Beautiful morning on the horizon - sun is shining through the trees along the lake. Going to be a good day. Cleared off yesterday and the sun came out. Seemed a little humid though. I'll be happy to have a week of work under my belt. Dead beat when I get home at night. We continue to clean and get things ready for opening day next Friday. We've been working back and forth between the cleaning and the paperwork - activities need to be written up, opening/closing manuals - all that fun stuff. I see a few birds fluttering around on the street where our back gate is - our resident Song Sparrows, but something else as well. Last year there was an American Redstart. Since the weather is good today, Big B. will go to work with me. Hopefully we'll find a few birds on our walk to catch a ride with Nancy.

Magnolia Warbler

Pollen has struck

Dandelions



Enjoy your day!

Day 143 - 23rd May 2018 - Bleeding Hearts

Overcast this morning but it doesn't stop the birds from singing their dawn songs. Looks like we've had a few showers during the night and more to come today. So we are shy on photos this morning, everything seems to be loading normally but those. It's my early morning travelling with Larry so it is what it is. Good first day back at work. Glad we aren't open til 1st June, will take a bit to get back in the swing of things. The routine of it all. For now we are busy with cleaning, setting up, working on programming etc. Going to be a busy season. I was tired when we we got home, thank goodness for leftovers this week.

Bleeding hearts in bloom


Enjoy your day!

Day 142 - 22nd May 2018- Chickadee, Willet and Piping Plover

Little cooler this morning, but looks like the sun will break out and be a warm day. Song Sparrows are singing,  Loon is on the lake and an Owl over in the woods. Lovely sounds. So this is it......back to work day! In a blink of an eye it's time to return. Yesterday I didn't do a whole lot, puttered around the house in the morning a bit then out for a roam in the hood. Turned out to be a beautiful day. Apple trees are all in bloom in the yard, a Northern Parula went from blossom to blossom - not sure if he was eating bugs or flowers. Tea on Lois' deck and a catch up with her after lunch, then I enjoyed some sun and reading for an hour on my back deck. Kind of a lazy day. Our evening meals are mostly looked after for this week, cooked some chicken pieces in the slow cook, left over pork chops and fish. All I need to do when we get home is some veggies. When the weather is nice I hate to waste the evening cooking.

 Chickadee

 Piping Plover

Willet




Enjoy your day!

Day 141 - 21st May 2018 - Great Blue Heron, Hermit Thrush and Barn Swallows

Sun is appear through the trees along the lake, looks like it's going to be a beautiful day. Song Sparrows singing their dawn song. My last day home, going to make the most of it - back to work tomorrow. Rained all day on Sunday so I spent a good portion of it in the kitchen - long process but I've got enough lunches made for Larry for 23 work days, each in a freezer bag and labeled. Good variety of good healthy food! I felt like I was running a restaurant especially with all the pots/pans and bowls continuously being washed. It's worth it - he eats good and I've got a head start. Other than that not much of an exciting day- some housework. We played marbles again last night - sorry to report Larry & Margie beat Alice & I. He's on a roll! Today's going to be a good day for roaming the hood and a few meal preps for our suppers this week.

Great Blue Heron taking off

 Barn Swallows

Hermit Thrush





Enjoy your day!

Day 140 - 20th May 2018 - Willet, Killdeer and Black-Throated Green Warbler

The rain has arrived, looks like it's going to be an inside day. So maybe all the extra cooking/lunchbox prep for Larry I was going to do on Monday I might do today. Promises of sunshine for tomorrow so it would be nicer to have a day outside and roaming the hood before starting work on Tuesday.  We had a good outing on Saturday. Left fairly early, headed down Port Clyde way checking out the ponds through Reynoldscroft, Thomasville etc and ended up at Sandhills Beach. Not much along the way - Belted Kingfisher, Willets, Great Blue Heron. The parking lot tossed out some song birds - at least 5 Hermit Thrushes, a pair of Black Throated Green Warblers, Song Sparrows, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Yellow Rumped Warblers and a White Throated Sparrow. We walked all the way down the back side of the beach and came up the front- it's a good jaunt. A pair of Piping Plovers, a Black Bellied Plover and some Willets. I think I managed to get 3 lbs of sand in my sneakers. After that we headed over to Cape Sable Island-did a quick trip around - Killdeer at the Guzzle, Willets at Daniel's Head. Lunch at West Head take out....well lunch and supper since neither of us could eat all of our Seafood Platters. Quick pick up of some groceries in Barrington then we were home bound. Played marbles last night - Margie won, but as the girls all say "Larry didn't" rah!  We do give him a hard time, but sometimes he deserves it and really loves every minute of it.

Willet - it was a good morning for reflections

 Found this Fox kit on our travels, he was hiding behind a bit of a bank.

Killdeer

Female Black-Throated Green Warbler








Enjoy your day!

Day 139 - 19th May 2018- Yellow Rumped Warbler, Black & White Warbler and Chickadee

Little chilly, there was a frost warning out but I think we may have been missed. Ducks are paddling around the lake, quaking softly, Song Sparrows singing in the trees. Otherwise it's a peaceful morning. Sun is coming up over the lake - beautiful day in the making. Got my meds refilled yesterday for another year. I lucked in and didn't' have to wait too long, now it will soon be Larry's turn to do the same thing. Being Friday it was Thelma and Louise day and probably our last one for a while as I go back to work on Tuesday. We may sneak a few in throughout the summer, depending on my schedule. Sadly Mary and I lost two games of marbles to Larry and Margie - I'm sure something funny was going on. It's the day of the Royal Wedding, I'm sure lots of people are up early watching, I've got one eye on it but will soon be getting Larry out of bed so we can go birding. Think we'll head to Sandhills Beach this morning - haven't been there since last summer and maybe to Cape Sable Island. Rain in the forecast for tomorrow so I've got to get as much in today as I can.

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Black & White Warbler - flashing me!

Chickadee



Enjoy your day!

Day 138 - 18th May 2018 - Canada Goose, Swamp Sparrow and Yellow Rump Warbler

No fog this morning, maybe we are going straight into a nice day! Well I'm off to town early this morning, going to Out Patients to sit and  get my meds refilled. What a waste of time for both me and the Doctor /Nurses there. But without a Family Doctor this is how it works. Hopefully I can get in by noon and can continue on to Thelma and Louise lunch out. It's our last one for a while (unless I have a Friday off) - next week is back to work for me. Thursday turned out to be a beautiful day. Fog disappeared before 11am and the sun made it's appearance. Saw a Red-Eyed Vireo on my way over to catch a ride with Nancy. Same spot as they nested the other year. Nice to see their return and of course I didn't have Big B with me. A few other birds along my way but nothing else new. A second male Hummingbird arrived earlier in the week, the guarding of the feed has started. Not sure how any of them actually get to eat as they spend most of their time fighting.

He spends a lot of time on the deck by himself.

Hidden in the bushes - Swamp Sparrow.

Yellow Rump Warbler- lots of these little ones around.





Enjoy your day!

Day 137 - 17th May 2018 - Rhodora

Foggy again this morning, little drizzle in the air. Hopeful it clears and turns out fine. I'm off to town this morning - have an appointment. Sorry but the photo upload is too slow for some reason this morning. And I'm in a hurry and running late.   Birds have been singing and twittering for the last hour - love the sound of spring.  Can hear a goose or two on the lake as the honk on their way by. Trees are filling out with leaves making it harder to find birds hiding.  Seems to be lots of the same around and no new arrivals in the last day or two.  A pair of healthy looking Purple Finches were here yesterday, they don't seem to be bothered with no feeders and enjoy a bit of time in the apple tree, plucking away at buds and bugs.  Hopefully tomorrow morning things will be running faster!

Rhodora is in bloom along the lake.






Enjoy your day!

Day 136 - 16th May 2018 - Northern Parula, Chickadee and Yellow Rumped Warbler

Looks like it's going to be a nice day, little windy this morning and some rain overnight. We can use the rain and it's so much better at night. I puttered around yesterday finishing up a few things and roamed the hood. Nothing new to report. Did  pulled pork for supper wrapped in cooked cabbage leaves instead of bread/buns with taters and veggies.  A little time consuming but makes enough for leftovers. Good crowd at Trivia last night but we didn't win. I think we are off our game!HA!HA! There are lots of laughs though. The apple trees will soon be in bloom which should bring the Cedar Waxwings and if I'm lucky a Baltimore Oriole. My monster Wisteria looks like it will have lots of flowers too. The plan for today was to go sit at Out Patients to get my meds re-filled (no Doctor for the last 2 1/2 years) but it's closed so will postpone that for another day. I can think of better things to do than sit for 4-5 hours, so I'm pretty good with being home today.

 Northern Parula

Chickadee - trying to hide in plain sight

Yellow Rumped Warbler




Enjoy your day!

Day 135 - 15th May 2018 - Yellow Rumped Warbler, Black & White Warbler and Red-Tailed Hawk

Little foggy and overcast looking this morning. Chickadees and Song Sparrows are singing around the yard. Ducks in the lake. Forecast says fog lifting but showers this afternoon. I noticed on my roaming yesterday that the lake has started dropping and the swamps are drying quickly. So much wind all the time dries everything up. Spied a Magnolia Warbler in the hood yesterday, another return for the season. They seem to be slow moving back in. I spent as much time outside as possible Monday enjoying the sun, did get a few things done inside. And went off to exercise class last night. Guess I'll roam around some this morning then buckle down and get some housework done. Trivia this evening.

Yellow Rumped Warbler perched on a branch

Black  & White Warbler

Red-Tailed Hawk. Hard to get a good clear shot when they are flying far about you.


Enjoy your day!

Day 134 - 14th May 2018 - Northern Parula, Black & White Warbler and Yellow Warbler

Thick fog this morning. An Owl was hooting next door but then moved off, now the Song Sparrows and Chickadees are singing. Looks like the fog will lift and the sun will shine again today. This is my last week off, next week it's back to work. I guess I better get cracking and finish all those odds and ends that need to be done. Fine day - I'll spend most of it outside if the blackflies don't carry me away. Sunday turned out to be a nice day - we spent some time at the Industrial Park in the morning. The Catbirds and Yellow Warblers have arrived there. Unfortunately the Catbirds weren't ready to come up by the road so I tramped down through briar bushes to find them and my legs are somewhat shredded after that walk. I was surprised there weren't more Warblers around. Checked out the hood after lunch and the Northern Parula and Black & White Warbler were friendlier. Maybe it takes a day or two for them to get settled in. Larry got some more of the garden planted and did some mowing. I did the lunch box prep thing and puttered around - more outside than in.

Northern Parula

 Black & White Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Grey Catbird hiding from me.







Enjoy your day!