Day 250 - 7th September 2015 - Say's Phoebe, Sheep, Sharp-Shinned Hawk and American Oystercatcher

Monday, but not a work day, nice to have the extra day home. Larry is going to help Billy with the cottage roof this morning. I'm staying home, time to get those lunch boxes filled for the week and do some laundry/housework. Have a turkey out to cook for supper - going to be good leftovers this week. I think before  I do any of that, I better take a  roam around the hood, maybe I'll be lucky enough to find something interesting that's stopped by during migration.
So we had an amazing Sunday morning birding on Cape Sable Island. Picked up friend Cal and went in search of the Say's Phoebe she had photographed on Saturday. Well the spot he was at seemed to be the hot spot for hawks - probably 5 in all hunting so needless to say it was quiet there. Cal got a good shot of a Nelson's Sparrow though, I didn't do too bad with a couple of the Hawks. Walked down the Hawk Road to the beach and back. Nothing. Poked along the road, looking and hoping. After a while we headed to Daniel's Head in search of the Stilt Sandpipers, but then got word that the Oystercatchers were around so we did find those, then returned to our Stilt search. No luck there. Well after about 3 1/2 hours (time goes fast in the bird world) we decided to drop Cal off  and head back home. It was nice to meet birders from all over, even a couple from Maryland. Just as we were going to Cal's Johnny & Sandra stopped and hollered "the bird is at the Fish Plant Road". Down we went and found him. It was worth the wait, He let us get within 8-10 feet of him and posed like a runway model. Definitely floated home on a high after that! A message from Irene on the phone with an invitation for supper in Upper Clyde so we were only home for a few hours and off again. Great meal and evening with friends - lots of laughs and I missed getting shots of a Hawk that was hanging around there.  After a very full and active day it was time for bed, my best day in three weeks but could feel the tiredness beginning to seep in as I went up the stairs. I know I'm on the mend though.

 Say's Phoebe. This guy is a western bird so a rarity for here and very exciting.

 So I got a little excited about this bird and have lots of photos!

Sharp-Shinned Hawk hunting for breakfast.

The sheep were on the farm at the guzzle.

The juvenile American Oystercatcher at Daniel's Head.

His parents were nearby.






Enjoy your day!

Day 249 - 6th September 2015 - Sunrise, Cape May Warbler, Flycatcher and Painted Lady

Sunday morning - another fine day in the making. Stars and Moon are out, air feels crisp and clean. On our way to Cape Sable Island this morning, I'm going to try to let Larry sleep in a bit, but... A Says Phoebe was sighted and photographed there yesterday, so not sure how long my loved ones will get to sleep. I may have to get them up and on the road earlier than planned. And of course I would love to see those Stilt Sandpipers.  We'll still have the afternoon to do some things around home and Larry can work in the woodpile.  Compromise - works for us!
We had a good trip to Yarmouth, even though the photos weren't great and I only spotted the Wilson's Warbler (no photo) which was new for me, but none of the others that had been hanging around all week. That's the world of birding, you take your chances. Overall it was pretty quiet. The little brook on the back road was very active when we went up, but mostly the regular visitors. Did a few errand, had lunch and then got home mid afternoon. Larry worked on wood after supper, I puttered and rested. Done in again.  Funny when I was going back through my photos last night I spotted one - had to crop it heavily that looked very much like a Cape May Warbler - yup it was and another lifer for me. Note - check out every photo!

The sun was rising over Lake Philip.

 White Throated Sparrow

Black-Throated Green Warbler.

I believe it's a Least Flycatcher.

A Cape May Warbler,  another lifer for me. I didn't realize I had it til I went through my photos last evening.

Painted Lady.






Enjoy your day!

Day 248 - 5th September 2015 - Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Black & White Warbler and a Cobweb

Saturday, first day of the long weekend and I'm up at 4:30 am - ugh! Going to be a long day, but we are going birding this morning, I'll face the consequences this afternoon of being overtired and have a nap on the way home.  Game plan is to head to Yarmouth in hopes of catching some of those interesting Warblers that have been appearing there. We'll meet up with our birding friend Ervin and hit a few of the hot spots, have a few errands to do while we are there, then homeward bound. I'm going to get some birding in this weekend no matter what! Been too long.
Friday was warm and sunny with a drop in humidity. Had a good morning walk, but it was pretty quiet, the wind had picked up and most of the birds were in hiding, I assume. I did managed to find a more sheltered spot and convince a few to come out. Quiet day at work, a few more things cleaned off my desk. Making headway. We were suppose to go to a family get together, but I was all in by the time we got home and Larry was too so we opted to stay in for the evening.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

Ducks were in the lake as always.

A rather haphazard cobweb

Chickadee

Rarely a day goes by I don't see a few Black & White Warblers.





Enjoy your day!

Day 247 - 4th September 2015 - Common Yellowthroats, Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird and Grandmother's Journal

Nice morning out there - stars and moon are in the sky, air is cool. A sunny day on it's way. Forecast for fine weather on the long weekend. Will be nice to have an extra day. Hoping to get some birding in - maybe a few short road trips to see what's out there.
Another beautiful day, started off a little foggy - hard to see the birds and the humidity is up. Wish I could shake this and feel 100% again, but I guess it takes time and I have little to no patience.
Grandmother's Journal: 
3 September 1976: Rained hard all night. To town early. Many rabbits, a lot of partridges on our way home. Say a Woodcock at Wrights's Road this morning. Beautiful evening. Apples falling now. So good to have a long weekend.
4 September 1976: Did usual Saturday chores. Bettie, Bobbie & boys this afternoon. Mike stayed and went up river, didn't come down until after dark, worried me. Bob & Claire Hood up for evening, nice visit. Gertrude over, had four games [crib], I won 3-1. Nice day, sunny, cool wind very cold overnight. But I don't thin a frost day, overcast with big fluffy clouds, moon behind them. Pretty shy. 

Everyone wants to be in the circus - Common Yellowthroat.

Ovenbird.

Common Yellowthroat.

Young Song Sparrow - I think.

Magnolia Warbler.

Chickadee

Northern Parula.





Enjoy your day!

Day 246 - 3rd September 2015 - Red-Eyed Vireo, Black & White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and a Butterfly

Looks like another nice day in the forecast. First day of school for all of those with kids - the summer sure flew by. Long weekend coming up, hoping that means fine weather and an extra day for us to get out birding. Hopefully the gas crisis has come to an end.
Had a good morning walk, but maybe a little too far as I was worn out when I got home. It was beautiful on the lake with a little mist rising up from the water. I really dislike this being tired and then the pain starts in my head. Spent most of the day puttering around the house doing up some chores I was behind in. Next month I'll start the big "fall cleaning", once the weather has cooled and I'm off. For now it's a lick and a promise.

Easy to see why they are called a Red-eyed Vireo. Lots of these guys around.













Black & White Warbler.

Common Yellowthroated Warbler. This little guy followed me quite a ways.

Northern Parula hiding in the leaves.

Palm Warbler.

The acrobat - Chickadee.

Blue-headed Vireo.

I think it's an Atlantis Fritillary.





Enjoy your day!

Day 245 - 2nd September 2015 - Sunrise, Black & White Warbler, Northern Parula and Magnolia Warbler

Stars and Moon are all out this morning, looks like another fine day on the horizon. Day off, will get some housework done (haven't accomplished much of that lately) and roam the hood.
September started off as a lovely month, hoping it continues. Had a good morning walk, lots of birds, but nothing unusual. Many of them were very co-operative. One little mishap, when I fell in the bushes and ended up with scratches and thorns on my legs. Appears my legs wore the only battle scars. Fairly quiet at work today, nice to get a few things done. Thought the Hummingbirds were gone when I got home last evening, but they appeared a little while later. Must have been checking out the neighbour's feeders.

Beautiful morning looking down at the lake.

American Redstart

Magnolia Warbler.

The Black & White Warblers were stunning and so agreeable.

Northern Parula.

Chickadee.








Enjoy your day!

Day 244 - 1st September 2015 - Chickadee, White-Breasted Nuthatch and a Cobweb

Welcome September, may you be cool at night, bright and sunny during the day. It's breezy out there this morning, but the stars are all shining in the sky. A good sign for another nice day. Another work day, feel tired before the day ends but mostly I'm feeling better than I was. Now hopefully I can make it a year and get the vaccine  next September (if I can remember).
Monday was really foggy on my walk, hard to see the birds hiding behind leaves. There really weren't a lot -Chickadees, Black & White Warbler, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler and Red-Eyed Vireos. Saw some of the same in the apple trees in the yard after supper. Maybe if he weather stays fine this weekend we can get out around find some shorebirds and warblers. Had a good day at work, a few researchers and I got a couple of things off my desk.

Lots of Chickadees around. Always cute and friendly.

Red-eyed Vireo hiding in the leaves.

The White breasted Nuthatches must have had lots of babies this year, they were everywhere.

Cobwebs in branches.

I could see a glimmer of the sun coming through the fog.

A calm morning on the harbour.








Enjoy your day!