Day 129 - 8th May 2016 - Merlin, House Sparrow and Red-Winged Blackbird

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts out there! We've had a little rain at some time overnight, hopefully the day is going to turn out fine. Not sure what's on the go for today, but we are planning to go to the Sandy Point Community Centre for their Creamed Lobster supper and will pick up a few things at Sobeys on my travels. We should probably stay home and get some work done around here most of the day but who knows!
We had a great Saturday, although seem to spend most of it in transit but that's ok. Went to the Scrape and Metal place in Digby (romantic or what?)- Larry had some stuff to get rid of and then our plan was to travel the coast to Yarmouth, pick up a few things and do some birding but decided to visit our friends at Freeport instead - that's Freeport, Digby not Maine or the Bahamas. We had lunch with Dorothy and Roger, I took a quick roam around the block and down by the cove - Red-Winged Blackbirds, a House Sparrow, Eiders and Starlings. Then it was time for us to beat it homeward with a quick detour to Yarmouth Red & White first. By the looks of the spring migrants on Cape Sable Island and nearby I should have gone birding in that direction but some days that's the way it rolls.

Merlin

Red-Winged Blackbird

















Cormorant taking off

Hidden in the bush is a House Sparrow - look closely









Enjoy your day!

Day 128 - 7th May 2016 - Wild Violets, Palm Warbler and Grandmother's Journal

It's Saturday! Rah! Hubby is taking me on a little adventure - some sightseeing and bird watching (hopefully), can't get much better than that. Looks like a good day on the horizon although the sky is empty of stars this morning. Of course that means no housework today, but who really cares it's always there another day.
Grandmother's Journal:
7 May 1977: Came out a nice day. Enough wind to help keep the blackflies away. Bob, Bettie & Sidney up to help with planting trees. Big help for Bob. Stan & Bettie up this evening. Stan, Bettie and I drove over to Banks. 
8 May 1977: Beautiful day. Cold wind but good for working outside. No flies because of wind. Bob, Bettie & Mike (Sid was here overnight) up and helped all day. Planting Apple trees. Big help for Bob. No Company today. I have worked really hard all week and very tired tonight. Cold but a beautiful evening. Boys from NS School for Boys up here in stolen car. Didn't even let us know. 
9 May 1977: Beautiful early this morning. Very cold. White frost everywhere. Brooks are covered with ice. Many rabbits along road as I went to town. Not on car. No one dipping kiacks. Became overcast in afternoon at suppertime rain with hail. Easterly winds. Emma and Charlie Harris in for a short visit.

Canada Mayflower leaves I think (haven't got my wildflower book out yet) bursting through the ground.

Wild Violets are making an appearance.














Seems there are a number of Palm Warblers around.

And the feeders are still busy with Purple Finches.








Enjoy your day!

Day 127 - 6th May 2016 - Canada Geese, Pileated Woodpecker and Pheasant

It's Friday, weekend is on it's way! Can hear a Loon being very vocal in the lake. Raining this morning but suppose to stop and be cloudy later. Am getting a little tired of the dismal days, need some sunshine.  We need a little sunshine again. Larry's getting anxious to start planting the garden.
A little wet in the morning and chilly throughout Thursday. Seems we are building a fire most nights as soon as we get home. It was one of those days where I felt like one of those little mice running on a wheel and getting no where. Lois dragged me out to exercise class last night, maybe it was a good thing - I hadn't gotten out for my morning walk so the release was a needed.

Came across these lovely creatures the other day - Canada Geese or the smaller Brant, I'm not sure!













The Pileated Woodpecker loves to play hide and seek.




















A Male Pheasant at Daniel's Head last week.

These are the real mccoys - Canada Geese.









Enjoy your day!

Day 126 - 5th May 2016 - Palm Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Evening Grosbeak

 Going to be a wet day. Rained during the night and still some more to come today, wish we could send some to Fort Mac. Work day, lots to do as always, getting a bit of backlog clear up from winter. Seems that it's never ending. Oh well that's what I'm there for!
Well the sun did make an appearance but was pretty lazy about doing it on Wednesday. Blackflies got more active in the afternoon, although not biting me...yet! At least I've given up my mittens on my morning walk these last few days. Lots of Palm and Yellow Rumped Warblers around, but still no sign of any others. The yard is really busy with Purple Finches and a few Goldfinches. Made a pot of chili for the next couple of nights for supper, did some housework (light) and had a few visitors in the afternoon coffee. All in all a good day off.

I was fortunate to get a couple of good Palm Warblers on my walk.















Always happy when the pose for you.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler, he put in an appearance with a flock of Purple Finches in the yard.














And there were several Evening Grosbeaks around.

Of course I have too many  of this pretty one - Grackle.









Enjoy your day!

Days 124 and 125 - 3rd and 4th May 2016 - Pussywillows, Purple Finches and Ducklings

The rain held off most of Monday, turned chilly around supper time so a fire was needed when we got home. Had cooked a roast and potatoes in the slow cooker - think I've figured that out, next week I'll tackle something new. Of course yesterday morning I had no internet (first time for that with the new provider - maybe storm related), couldn't write before I went to work so you are getting two days in one today. I'm not sure I do enough interesting stuff to write every day but it is what it is! Back in to the swing of work  these days. Today is my day off and I'm looking forward to a good roam around the hood, must be time to see a few new Warblers of the season.

Pussywillows past their prime. I see lots of new plant leaves popping through the forest bottom.

We still have lots of Purple Finches at the feeders.

A beautiful morning on the lake.

The first batch of ducklings of the season. Looking forward to more.









Enjoy your day!

Day 123 - 2nd May 2016 - Swamp Sparrow, Canada Geese and Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Here we are at Monday - the start of the work week once again, weekends fly by but I guess there is nothing we can do about that. Rain on the way - long range looks like rain for most of the week. I guess that will help with the forest fire index. 
Sunday turned out to be another beautiful day with a chilly start. I headed out for my walk wearing mittens. Not quiet as active as it has been the last few days but still some Palm Warblers, Sparrows, Mallards, pair of Canada Geese, a White Throated Sparrow around not to mention the yard feeders are plenty busy with Purple Finches, Goldfinches, Chickadees, Grackles and Blue Jays. There have been a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds for the last two days Got all those household chores done up and we took a drive to Upper Clyde. Knew at that time of day nothing much would be around but there were some Tree Swallows and we took the opportunity to visit with friends we haven't seen all winter. Larry got the lawn mowed for the first time of the season.

Swamp Sparrow















A pair of Geese fly off into the morning mist.

These Canada Geese were going from cove to cove stirring up quiet a noise.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk.









Enjoy your day!

Day 122 - 1st May 2016 - Savannah Sparrow, Sanderlings and Piping Plover

Good morning May! Hope you bring us sunshine and warm weather and rain while we sleep. I know that last wish is unlikely but a girl can try. It's a beautiful morning with the Song Sparrows singing around the yard, a Hermit Thrush somewhere across the road, a Loon in the lake and an Owl up the lake with the day light coming all soft and glowing over the lake. No idea what we'll get up to today, except I know being Sunday there are muffins to make and lunch box prep to do.
Had a good run to Cape Sable Island yesterday morning, lots of Savannah and Song Sparrows around, Sanderlings and Piping Plovers on the Daniel Head's Beach and Willets scattered throughout. We did get a glimpse of the Glossy Ibis, but too far away for anything but a dot on a photograph. Didn't get to Baccaro and up through to Port Clyde, my time was running short and I had to be in to the office.

Savannah Sparrow

Seal was heading back to the water at Stoney Island Beach.















Willet. I'm never sure why people feel the need to throw their garbage where it doesn't belong.

Sanderlings skimming along the waves.

Sanderling - fun to watch and if you stay still they will ignore you and go about their feeding at the water's edge.

One of eight Piping Plovers at Daniel's Head.





Enjoy your day!