Day 98 - 7th April 2016 - Chickadee, Robin and the Sun

If it's going to rain, not sure why I saw snow flakes this morning. Suppose to be lots of rain overnight. I wonder if we can put in an order of straight sunshine for a few days?  I'm ready for some good warm weather. Will aim for a quick run around the hood this morning, maybe I'll spot the Wood Duck again. In town this afternoon, then exercise class this evening.
Not a bad day considering it started out at -12 but warmed up as the day went on unless you consider the wind which wasn't so nice. Had a meeting in the morning, lunch at the Bean Dock and a new hair cut in the afternoon. Then supper on the way home at Cathy and Harold's. That perks a girl up! The Rusty Hinges (Grackles) were singing when we got home, Chickadees, Juncos and Sparrows were in and around the feeders.

The sun shines through the branches of the old apple tree.

Branches dipped in ice/snow.

Getting ready for take off.

I just think they look pretty neat.

Nice to see the Robins around again.








Enjoy your day!

Day 97 - 6th April 2016 - Grackle, Chipping Sparrow and Purple Finch

It's Wednesday and my town day, seems it comes around quickly.  It's a cold morning but looks like the sun will come out and warm up some later. Hopefully it will melt the rest of the snow!!!Thank goodness I've got a hair appointment this afternoon. It's become totally out of control!
Didn't go out for my early walk, waited and took Lexi later. I just didn't have the heart to trudge through snow and take winter photos. The Grackle population is booming - up to 35 now, I think they've become a herd. They remind me of rusty hinges when they are all squawking away. A little more spring cleaning done, some computer work and finished off the day with some cooking. Being Tuesday Cathy stopped for afternoon coffee. Will miss our visits when I go back to work.

Handsome Devil - Grackle.
















The Chipping Sparrow still visits.

Mourning Dove enjoying some afternoon sun.

The male Purple Finches are getting brighter.










Enjoy your day!

Day 96 - 5th April 2016 - Wood Duck, Bling and Daffodils

I didn't dream the snow it's out there - ground is all covered again. Maybe some of it will melt off today if it the sun comes out. Tuesday has become a day to be mostly in the kitchen. Do some more lunch box entrees, maybe a soup or casserole for a few suppers, etc. Then back to the spring cleaning.
All morning I thought - the weather sites must be wrong - it was beautiful and sunny, although kind of cold but sure enough by late afternoon it started getting overcast and the snow came just before supper. I went out for my walk early, in hopes of seeing the Wood Duck that arrived at Myrna's on Saturday.  I was rewarded and got some nice shots of him. No sign of his wife, she must be coming on a later flight. It was a day of some first of the season - saw a Loon in the lake (too far away for good shots) and had a Male Northern Flicker in the yard. It was the fourth week of the online course I'm doing - all about DNA testing this time. Quite interesting and something I'd like to follow up on, might be  a way of cracking a brick wall in the family tree.

He's a stunning creature!

















































I thought he deserved more than one photo.

 I had hoped I was done with winter bling but guess not.

 The miniature Daffodils survived Sunday's snow, not sure about Monday.






Enjoy your day!

Day 95 - 4th April 2016 - Robin, Song Sparrow and Evening Grosbeaks

I so dislike waking up to snow on the ground and more to come later today, or so they say. It seems it will be another good day for spring cleaning - blah!  There's nothing much you can do about the weather besides complain. So might as well suck it up and make the best of it.
Sunday started out with some sunshine so I got dressed and headed out for my walk. Didn't take long before the sun disappeared and storm clouds rolled in. Made it home before the rain started. A few hours later it was mixed rain/snow, then hard snow and after supper - the sunshine reappeared. Puttered around the house doing up some things, then a birthday party for a dear friend in the afternoon. Larry worked in the wood pile til the weather changed.

 Robin on the trail.

 Song Sparrows were singing everywhere.

Where did the sun go??

 Came home to find new birds at the feeders.

 The male Evening Grosbeak returned with his wife and by then it was raining.

 She doesn't look impressed.

And then came the snow - Goldfinch.




Enjoy your day!

Day 94 - 3rd April 2016 - Pheasants, Gull and Song Sparrow

The peepers are in fine voice this morning. I will continue to think about them and spring as we get snow later today and tomorrow.  It won't last long as both the sun and ground are warmer. Still doesn't mean I want to see it. Probably a home day - lunch box prep etc. Maybe a roam around the hood later. 
We got through a good part of the day without rain, although it was overcast and really foggy in the morning as we headed across the causeway to Cape Sable Island.  A tour around the island and I either missed the good stuff (Plovers and Pintails) or they weren't in their usual spots when we were there. Did see a Great Blue Heron, Gulls Eiders, etc.  Ran into some other birders and chatted about a possible new find by one yesterday but it never re-appeared and we moved on our travels to Barrington and groceries. The long way home with a side trip to Blanche yielded a pair of Pheasant but not the Gray Jays I had hoped to find. By then the rain had started so we headed for home.

Both Male and Female Pheasant at Blanche on Saturday. She was a little more shy. 

He of course was happy to strut his stuff!

Fog and surf at Daniel's Head.

 Herring Gull.

Song Sparrows seem to be on every branch singing away!




Enjoy your day!

Day 93 - 2nd April 2016- Grackles and a Chipmunk

 The wind has died out this morning and the only sound I can hear is that  of ducks in the ditch by the road nearby. Weather forecast (should I believe it) says the rain is suppose to hold off til late morning. Might be a good chance to take a run to Cape Sable Island and see if anything has appeared. I know that several Piping Plover arrived this week. Then of course we could stop and do shopping on the way home in Barrington.
We survived a very wet and wild Friday.  It was a good day to continue with the spring cleaning although Lexi and I did get out a couple of times quickly between hard showers. The Grackles are growing in numbers, seems I have 13 males and 1 female now. By evening the rain at stopped, but the wind continued and you could hear the peepers - singing away.

 A very wet Grackle!

 He looks like the "angry bird".















One of the two Chipmunks I have in the yard. 

The Daphne is getting more blooms.









Enjoy your day!

Day 92 - 1st April 2016 - Crocuses and a Downy Woodpecker

Happy April Fool's Day - hope you don't get tricked! March winds bring forth April showers, although it sounds like more than just showers for today. So I guess it will be an inside day of more spring cleaning etc. I would seriously rather curl up with a book, but there are things to be done and they don't get accomplished on their own. The weather doesn't look any better for the weekend which will put a damper on birding. Larry's been working in the woodpile after supper for an hour or so - that will free up some of our weekends later.
March left us like a lion, although at least it was warm and sunny but the wind blew hard and continued all night. The birds were flying sideways and the little ones looked like they had no control over their destination. By afternoon the Crocuses were all open - the yellow and white ones are pretty well spent but the purple are in their prime.  Thursday evening continued my love/hate relationship with exercise class but it helps to remove the Easter chocolate I've been inhaling.

They maybe small but pack a punch of color throughout the yard.

In the morning they were still closed.














But by afternoon the sun had opened them all up.

Downy Woodpecker checking for lunch in the lilac bush.









Enjoy your day!