Day 7 - 7th January 2018 - Goldfinches, Song Sparrow, Starlings

Sunday, the first week of January has flown by - well it was busy, getting ready for a storm then waiting for it to get over. It's cold this morning but the wind has died out a little but still blowing, not snowing though. Stars and the moon light up the sky.  We picked up the girls and went to Chase the Ace in Jordan yesterday, was nice to get out of the house for a few hours. Stopped and had supper at Scotia Lunch - no one wanted to cook when they got home. Back to work tomorrow for three weeks to finish off the archival project. Just about the time I finish that Larry will head back to work - things will have returned to normal once again. I guess that means today, I've got some things to get done around here, at least I don't have to worry about meals, Larry will look after those. A brief reprieve from cooking for me. The feeders were like ant farms on Saturday - Goldfinches have increased in numbers. I counted 72.  They all appear to be starving but I know they roam the hood eating from several feeders.

Goldfinches

Red Winged Blackbirds

Our single Song Sparrow

The Starlings appeared to be more cold then hungry.



Enjoy your day!

Day 6 - 6th January 2018 - Pine Siskin, White Throated Sparrow and Goldfinches

The day after the storm although by mid afternoon we had quite a bit of snow coming down - white out conditions around supper time. Still a few flakes in the air this morning. Thought about going to town, but then...passed on that. Will run in this morning - don't really need much besides milk but Larry broke a saw blade so wants to pick up a new one - he's doing a few projects, one being bird feeders.   I hope I'll get one of them this time. The birds were in a total feeding frenzy yesterday, in fact you could walk out on the deck next to one of the feeders and they just ignored you. A flock of almost 50 Goldfinches finally included a Pine Siskin. The forecast says more flurries for today.

The first Pine Siskin of the season on top of the Christmas Tree.

 A Goldfinch perches on a fence post in the wind and snow.

 The White-Throated Sparrow lurks in the bush waiting for the feeder to be free.

 A flurry of activity in the feeders
and Christmas Tree - Goldfinches.

Enjoy your day!

Day 5 - 5th January 2018 - Goldfinches, Downy Woodpecker and Hydrangeas

Well it's still pretty wild out there this morning. Looked out at 4am the wind was still raging, at 4:30am the ground was covered with snow. Temperatures are dropping but the wind is still strong! So far we've maintained our power, but no guarantees yet until that wind dies out. NS Power outage map shows wide spread outages throughout the province - about 50,000 more than what was out when I went to bed last night. It's not over yet! We had somewhat of a lazy day yesterday, waiting for/watching the storm. It brought lots of rain to this area.  From all accounts the high tide and storm surge was up over Dock St. last night - hope everything is ok down there and there are still warnings out for today's high tide. The birds were all in a feeding frenzy in the morning, we put extra out. The Chickadees and Goldfinches are happy with the Christmas tree, I usually toss a hand full of seeds in there as I'm filling the feeders. 

Goldfinches hiding out in the Honeysuckle Bush

 Male Downy Woodpecker - we've got 4 Downies and 2 Hairies who are faithful visitors.

The Hydrangeas seem to hold their own.





Enjoy your day!

Day 4 - 4th January 2018 - Goldfinches, Sunflower and White Breasted Nuthatch

Wednesday everything was so quiet and still - as the say, the calm before the storm. I stood on the deck last evening watching the moon behind the branches of old weeping willow tree, dark clouds shifted across the sky and the stars popped in and out. Reminded me more of Halloween than January. The birds were busy at the feeders most all day. The Goldfinch flock is growing, lots of Nuthatches, Chickadees and Woodpeckers. The Red Wing Blackbirds were back, Starlings, Blue Jays and Mourning Doves. Still no sign of Evening Grosbeaks or Pine Siskins and it's been several years since Red Polls were here.  I made a big pot of Turkey-Vegetable Soup, Brown Bread and Rolls. Since we have an abundance of eggs, boiled up some of those. Water in jugs, electronics charged and I think we are as set as we can be for a power outage. I've heard it called a weather bomb. Not sure if I like the sound of that but not a thing  you can do. Stay warm and safe folks!

Just a few of the Goldfinches.

This Sunflower is still standing after the last storm, wonder if it will hold through another.

White Breasted Nuthatch





Enjoy your day!

Day 3 - 3rd January 2018- Blue Jay, Red Breasted Nuthatch and Grackle

The moon was brilliant shining up over the tree line  when I got home from Trivia last evening (by the way we won).  It was nice to start again after the Christmas break and a fun evening - we did lots of laughing.  We went to town yesterday morning and picked up what provisions we needed for the upcoming storm. I'm still somewhat confused by what they are offering - warning but looks like we will get everything and anything so a power outage will probably occur. Did start a little of the clean out of my sewing/photography room in the afternoon - this might take a while! Definitely need to purge some things and try to re-organize the space.  Today we'll fill water jugs, charge up cell phone, kobo etc. Cooked a turkey yesterday - so also plan to make a big pot of hearty turkey-veggie soup and some brown bread rolls today. Easy food to reheat and warm a body through.

A nice pop of color - Blue Jay

Not a great shot but this Red Breasted Nuthatch was in take off mode

Our resident Grackle along with the Red Winged Blackbird and a Mourning Dove.





Enjoy your day!

Day 2 - 2nd January 2018 - White Throated Sparrow, Red Winged Blackbird and Downy Woodpecker

The holidays are all over, time to get things done. Today we'll make a quick run to town to pick up provisions for the upcoming storm on Thursday -paper plates, butane, batteries, generator gas, etc. I always have these things stocked up but last week's outage has depleted the box some. They are still tossing around snow, rain and high wind - sounds like it's going to be another fun day. Before supper we'll set up the hall for Trivia tonight. Somewhere between the running up and down the road I've got a Turkey out to cook. I missed the leftovers from Christmas and I'll up a pot of soup on Wednesday, just in case. Had a good New Year's Day, mostly lazy, reading watching the birds at the feeders until it was time to go to Mom & Dad's for Chinese. She out did herself with all the food and to top it off, Peach Trifle and/or Blueberry Cheesecake. Larry was sure he spied a Chipping Sparrow under the feeders, but I never did see him, lots of Goldfinches though.

 White Throated Sparrow

 Red Winged Blackbird

Downy Woodpecker







Enjoy your day!

Day 1 - 1st of January 2018 - Red Winged Blackbirds, Starling and Christmas Tree

Happy New Year Everyone! Of course I didn't stay up to welcome the year in but I kind of knew that wouldn't happen. No New Year Resolutions from me, except to try to be a good person (as best I can), be happy, kind to others  and hopefully healthy.  Looking forward to some new challenges, getting back to birding and my photography (which has been sadly lacking) in the upcoming months. Maybe I'll even work on some genealogy and find an elusive ancestors or two - who knows! This afternoon we are off to Mom and Dad's for the annual family New Year's meal - Mom has been cooking for two days I'm sure - Chinese food. I'm sure there will also be a Trifle and Cheesecake for dessert. It's all about the food! Family gatherings around their dining room table are the best. Yesterday the tree came down and was put out for the birds to enjoy over the next few cold months. Decorations are all put away for another year.

Two of the three Red Winged Blackbirds, Mourning Dove do a photo bomb in the back!

 Not the most popular bird - the Starlings but when the lights hits their feathers they are striking. There is a small flock of them

And the tree next to one of the feeders.



Enjoy your day!