Day 159 - 7th June 2016 - Hermit Thrushes, Bunch Berry and Twin Flowers

 Pretty foggy out there this morning, maybe it will lift. I'll take Big B. with me anyway unless it starts raining, might be able to spot a few birds or one of the beavers in a cove. Looking forward to another day at work.
I got my morning walk in yesterday but was pretty wet by the time I met Nancy for my ride. Still good though, I enjoy that time along the lake even when the weather is miserable. The rain cleared around lunch time and the sun  came out in the afternoon, but remained humid. Good day at work, a few new things and I'm getting a handle on giving the guided tours, or I should say more comfortable. A few things done around the house after supper and Larry worked on piling wood in the basement. We've stopped putting feed in the feeders although I still see and hear some birds around. Now there is lots of things they can forage for and mostly my feeders get emptied by the Squirrels, Blue Jays and Grackles.  Seems to be a lot of Robins around and I heard a Northern Parula in one of the Apple Trees last evening.

 The Hermit Thrushes who were hanging out in the yard Sunday evening.

Bunch Berry. Once the flowers go, red berries will appear adding another little color to the forest floor.















You really have to look for these tiny one - Twin Flowers. One of my favourite wild flowers. They have a lovely sweet smell and you can often smell them before seeing them.



Enjoy your day!

Day 158 - 6th June 2016 - Wisteria, Robin and Black & White Warbler

Raining this morning and the work week commences. Will have to find some inside work today, doesn't look like a day to work in the gardens. Maybe it will clear off later. I'm sure we'll find something interesting to do. Always something new to learn.
Had a good Sunday at home. Roamed the hood and got the housework down to a dull roar. Did the lunch box routine - muffins and entrees for Larry. I keep mine simple with a sandwich.Cooked a turkey which will give us a jumpstart for meals this week.  Larry spent most of the day splitting wood and putting some in the basement. We are ahead of that game.  It was a beautiful day once the  fog lifted and I headed out early for my roam around the hood. I would say the bird species is about half of what if was 3-4 years ago. Not sure what the answer to that question is. Larry did finally spot the Solitary Sandpipers Friday night, but they weren't where they've been the last few year. They've moved to another cove. We had a very friendly pair of Hermit Thrushes in the yard last evening, they sat on the fence and just kind of roamed around - picking bugs out of the grass.



A very small section of my Wisteria Blossoms

The Red-Eyed Vireos are always hiding in the branches and behind leaves














The Robin say to me for quite a while

Black and White Warbler








Enjoy your day!

Day 157 - 5th June 2016 - Yellow, Yellow Rumped and Common Yellowthroat Warblers

Foggy morning, I can just see a glimmer of daylight through the trees, but I'm sure it will lift and be a nice day.  Home today, need to get ready for the work week - meal planning, lunch box prep and some housework. Turkey going in the oven later today which will give me something to work suppers around.  And I will definitely be roaming the hood a little bit.
Great day birding and roaming around. Headed down the Port Clyde Road and on to Blanche, ponds were quiet along the way - the odd Willet and a few Black Ducks. Think we took 2 hours to go up and down the Blanche Road, with me doing a lot of walking.  It was a good day for Warblers and Flycatchers. Magnolia, Yellow, Yellow Rumped and Common Yellowthroat Warblers, Northern Parulas were among the ones we saw and identified. Song Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes were handy as well.A few voices in the bushes I wasn't sure about. Flycatchers were out  and they can be a confusing lot. 99% sure of a Willow Flycatcher which was new to my lifer list, but only a distant doc shot. However, his song confirmed who he was from the Alder Flycatcher which we saw a number of.  I had planned on taking a side trip to Sandhills Beach but time was escaping us and the tide was high in the morning and it's one of those spots that I like to go on a lower tide for birding. Off to do some shopping at Barrington, lunch at West Head Take Out and a quick run to the Hawk and Daniel's Beach. Home by late afternoon with time to do a few household chores and then curl up for a lazy evening while Larry went fishing.

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Northern Parula

Common Yellowthroat - I think Saturday was mostly a yellow bird day!

 Alder Flycatcher. His song confirmed that's what he was.








Enjoy your day!

Day 156 - 4th June 2016 - Red-Eyed Vireo, Yellow Rumped Warbler and Wisteria

My weekend off, think it's time to get a little birding in. Weather looks promising so maybe we will head to Sandhills Beach, then on to CSI. Oh yes, will no doubt finish off  with the grocery shopping before heading home. Should still get home early enough to do some things around home.
Friday was the last day of my first week at the Ross Thomson House. I'm going to love this summer. Great people to work for and with, lots of interesting things to do. Got my morning walk in, a little more activity but mostly higher in the trees so my shots are far from good. Hearing and seeing a few more Red-Eyed Vireos this week. The yard and feeders are still quite busy - lots of Robins around and I'm surprised there are four Pine Siskins still here. Not quite as many Purple Finches and Goldfinches as there were but a few linger in the yard.  Always something to enjoy on the back deck.

Lovely pink blossoms from Lois' yard - an Azalea of some sort.











Hiding among those leaves is a Red-Eyed Vireo.














Yellow Rumped Warbler

I'll try for more photos today but this is just part of my Wisteria that's blooming through the apple tree.







Enjoy your day!

Day 155 - 3rd June 2016 - Magnolia Warbler, Birdhouses and Chestnut Blossoms

 It's Friday, little cloudy looking out there but hopefully it will clear. Well this is my weekend off so last day of the work week for me. It's been a good first week, looking forward to the rest of the season. Need to kickstart myself with a little more coffee this morning.
Another great day at work. Had a nice morning walk, finally heard a Catbird and saw some Magnolia Warblers. Ovenbirds, Hermit Thrushes were singing as well. Did a little gardening and marked out a new Herb garden at the museum. Lots of different things do to inside and outside in the run of a day. Now sometimes it's a little difficult wearing our costumes and makes for a good laugh but it's still all good. Then headed off to a meeting, so didn't get home til about 7:30pm, a long day for me, but I seem to have more energy now.

Magnolia Warbler
















I always enjoy this collection of birdhouses on the waterfront.





















Chestnut tree in bloom

White Lilac along Dock Street.








Enjoy your day!

Day 154 - 2nd June 2016 - Bleeding Heart, Chives and Ducks

Up a little early this morning thanks to a Diva dog named Lexi, not sure what she found to bark at - maybe a deer roaming through the yard. But it's a spectacular start to the day anyway - owl hooting, loons in the lake singing, several Song Sparrow around the edge of the property and daylight coming through the trees. A great morning to enjoy coffee on the deck.
Had a fabulous opening day, a few tourists around, we started making plans for the garden and lots of other things on the go. I believe it's going to be a busy and exciting summer. I passed on housework after supper and opted for a roam in the hood instead. The Cedar Waxwings are still around, Ovenbirds in a couple of spots and saw a Blue Headed Vireo in Lois' yard. Wildflowers are popping up everywhere.

Looking down the harbour from the Fishermen's Memorial. You can see the Sandy Point Light way in the background.











Bleeding Hearts in someone's garden.

 Chives from the herb garden.

These three youngsters are growing quickly and will soon be as big as their Mom.








Enjoy your day!

Day 153 - 1st June 2016 - Cobwebs, Blooms and a Doryman

Good Morning June and the first day the Ross Thomson House is actually open for the season. Prep work, cleaning etc. is done, lets see how smart we are. And today we are dressed in our  outfits, hoping that visitors will enjoy a step back in time. Little nervous this morning, trying to remember everything and probably things I don't know yet as I tend to think too much. Birds are singing away this morning and the sun is beautiful coming up over the lake. I can see the reflection of color through the trees.
Day 2 was excellent, learning some more things and finishing up with the cleaning and setting up. Sun eventually came out and it was a beautiful day. My morning walk was a little dismal as the fog was hanging and was rather misty. Could hear birds - Red-Eyed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Oven Birds, a quick glimpse of a Magnolia Warbler. Last night it was a mad rush after supper to get some household chores done and suppers prepped for another couple of nights.

 Cobwebs were everywhere.

More blossoms throughout the woods.
















Leaves were drenched along the way

This little dory man was spinning away along the waterfront.







Enjoy your day!