Day 361 - 27th December 2015 - Mountain Bluebirds, Great Egret and Guillemot

Sunday morning - stars and moon from last night are all hidden behind clouds now. Rain is on it's way for today. Heard an owl up the lake. In the quiet of the early morning hard to tell just how far away they are. Will let Larry have a sleep in - he's back to work tomorrow which means it's lunchbox prep day. Short lived break from that. Maybe tidy up the Christmas gifts and finish the book I'm reading.
We had a great Boxing Day. Went to Cape Sable Island to do some birding and finally I found the Mountain Bluebirds - lifer! Found the Great Egret but he was too far for good shots, lots of  Gulls but didn't notice any of them being unusual or different. The Snowy Owls seem to be absent as well. Stopped to visit Irene and Billy and actually caught them home. Normally we would poke down through Baccaro and homeward that way but decided since Larry still had to fish an extension cord through the foundation for the de-icer stuffy (technical term) on the roof we should just go straight home. I got my walk in even though it was late in the afternoon.

 Finally after 4-5 trips, I found the Mountain Bluebirds.

They are handsome birds.

Guillemot at the Wharf in Daniel's Head.

The Great Egret was across the marsh - no way was he coming closer for good shots!

And of course no day is complete without a Chickadee.












Enjoy your day!

Day 360 - 26th December 2015 - Cobwebs, Gulls and Canada Geese

Boxing Day - most places will still be closed today not that I want to go shopping. It's going to be a birding day for us. Think we'll pack our lunch and make a day of it. Hoping there is something interesting out there for us to see/find. Looks like another fine day on the horizon. The full moon is still big and beautiful this morning with the stars shining around it. Apparently a rare occasion for it to happen on Christmas Day.
We had a lovely Christmas - a few new bird books - Hawks and Sparrows among many other gifts. Lots of good food and family. In between meals I planted some flower bulbs that I should have done several months ago but with weather like this it didn't matter. I see the tulips, etc. are sprouting through the ground now. Apparently they've not heard it's winter either! Went for a jaunt around the hood but couldn't even find a Chickadee - super quiet and the lake was calm as glass.

Cobwebs and fallen leaves lay in the moss of the woods.

The Gulls were hanging out on the reef in the harbour.

Not a great shot - it was actually brighter with the  naked eye than the camera but it looked like a rainbow pillar.

The Canada Geese were in Lake Philip.

Another cobweb.







Enjoy your day!

Day 359 - 25th December 2015 - Christmas Lights and Decorations

Merry Christmas Everyone! Thick fog out there this morning, but it's mild and going to be fine. We will spend most of the day with family - breakfast and then dinner.  Going to need to get some walking in after all that food!
Yesterday went well. I buzzed around did up some things around the house in the morning then curled up for a bit to read. It rained all morning but eased off by noon. Larry came home around lunch time. We had a nice dinner of lobster pasta, potato salad and some more lobster. I even found time to snag a nap in the afternoon. After supper we headed to Sandy Point to enjoy an evening with family and friends. Lots of good snacks, some had a game of darts - lots of laughter. Just what the holidays are about.

 Just a few photos of Christmas lights/decorations I took last evening on the way home.

Enjoy your day!

Day 358 - 24th December 2015 - Grasses, Goldfinch and Mayflowers

Christmas Eve and our Anniversary. Oh the weather was very different so many years ago - stormy and a blizzard but the minister made it and we tied the knot. It's raining hard this morning but hopefully will clear later. Shouldn't be a whole lot on the go today, a couple loads of laundry and little tidying up, supper to figure out (lobster). Larry will be finished around lunch time so we can enjoy the afternoon together. This evening we'll spend with some of our extended family - I'm sure there will be lots of laughter and merriment. 
A rather dull day, the sun didn't make much of an appearance but it was mild. Got out for a good walk but it's terribly quiet these days - all I heard or saw were Crows and a flock of Mourning Doves. Stopped for tea with Lois and her feeders aren't any more active than mine - Goldfinches and Chickadees. I guess with this mild weather they can find lots to eat in the woods. Although the squirrels seem to be too lazy to forage anywhere but the feeders. A few more things done around the house. Delivered gifts after supper and the last of the errands in town.

This plant holds it's interest and shape long after the flowers have bloomed.

Goldfinch.

Chickadee.

And the grasses are still interesting in the bleakness of the season.

But on the upside I found Mayflowers budding up! Could winter be done?








Enjoy your day!

Day 357 - 23rd December 2015 - Fog, White Breasted Nuthatch and Pussy Willows

A mild morning with stars in the sky and a little wind. I know that everyone (or most people) hope for a White Christmas as the song says but in reality a green Christmas is much better for many people. Those that plow roads will be home with their families, less chance of accidents, picking up loved ones from airports, visiting, etc. For me it's the selfish reason - I hate the thought of missing turkey dinner at my parents.  It's all about the food and being together. Have a few things left to finish up today and then we will deliver gifts this evening.
Wrapping finished up, odd jobs around the house done and very little left.... I think. It was a nice morning for a walk before the rain started after lunch.  Made a lasagna for supper which is good for another night. Will save the Lobster for Christmas Eve.

Thick fog on the lake, but with not a breath of wind -beautiful for reflections.

Raindrops hung from all the branches.

Perhaps I should take my tea with me and enjoy some deck time at a neighbour's.

Birds were few - although I did find three White Breasted Nuthatches.

Pussy Willows in December?












Enjoy your day!

Day 356 - 22nd December 2015 - Ice, Frost and Goldfinches

Winter Solstice - shortest day of the year. Now the days will  begin to get a little longer - not that we will notice anytime soon but it's a good thought. Looks like the forecast has some rain scheduled for today. Hopefully I'll get out early before it starts for a jaunt. Then it's clean up and finish wrapping. Nothing terribly exciting on my agenda.
Had a busy Monday, lots accomplished. Finished off the last batch of liquored up cherries, put together 10 tins and 1 tray of sweet treats for gifts. Decided it was a good time to install the new TV and managed a nice walk in the morning and tea with Lois. The last night of exercise class til after the holidays so I hauled myself off there - my other option was to shell out lobsters. That's more up Larry's alley.  It was cold in the morning but didn't take long to warm up and the snow melt.

Ice and frost on the grasses in the lake.

The sun was trying to make an appearance over the point.

The flock of Goldfinches is growing daily.

A little bit of shell ice was along the edges of the coves.

Enjoy your day!

Day 355 - 21st December 2015 - Goldfinches, Woodpecker and Snow

So I thought today was the shortest day of the year but apparently after checking google I'm wrong this year it's the 22nd! I'll save my thoughts on that for tomorrow. Not as cold this morning and the wind has died out.  Looks like a nice mild day in the making. I've got to get those things done that I put off on the weekend - cherries dipped and cookies decorated then tins filled to give away. Should free up some space in the fridge and freezer. I believe a good long walk in the hood is needed too.
Sunday remained windy and cold so we gave a pass at going to Cape Sable Island.  Puttered around the house - as usual doing the Sunday lunchbox cooking (seriously getting tired of that).  Went to town to pick up the things I forgot on Saturday and then we went to a birthday party - nice couple of hours. At 4:45pm yesterday with some daylight left the moon was sitting high in the sky.

 A windblown Goldfinch.

 A female Woodpecker found some good eats.

A great feeder for the Goldfinches and other small birds, however,  I've seen the squirrels weasel their way in too.

The cranberry ditch is frozen over with snow along the edges.

Snow dipped branches.








Enjoy your day!