Day 107 - 16th April 2016 - Northern Flicker, Cowbird, Grackle and Song Sparrow

It's Saturday so it must be a birding day!! Rah! Still blowing out there this morning, doesn't feel as cold as yesterday but it's still a nor'east wind.  Not quite sure where we will head, maybe to Blanche, Baccaro then Cape Sable Island and back to Barrington for groceries. It's almost a regular routine for Saturdays now.
I started Friday with good intentions of doing housework - thank goodness I got persuaded to head out on a little road trip with a friend. We went out to Port Clyde to pick up a very large box of family treasures, had lunch at Clyde River then back at her place to take a look through and see what was in the box. Some interesting items. We solved an old family genealogy problem, but of course now have to find proof for our theory. Got home just in time to sling some supper together. All in all a good outing and day.

The Flicker rested quietly in the Honeysuckle Bush almost like he didn't care I was watching.

Brown headed Cowbird.

One of about 40 Grackles.

The Song Sparrow usually sticks to the ground feeding.











Enjoy your day!

Day 106 - 15th April 2016 - Robin, Purple Finches and Evening Grosbeaks

Friday has arrived, another end to the work week for many. Looks like a fine weather forecast - yeah! Some birding on the horizon for us Saturday and maybe Sunday. Next week will be my last week home then it's back to work (that sure guarantee good weather). New growth is popping up in my flower beds - the Hostas and Solomon's Seal are coming and a few more bulbs.
The sun did shine and I got out for a lovely long walk, although once again nothing exciting around. Some day soon one of the Warblers will pop out of the bushes at me. They are beginning to see  a few in Yarmouth. My only new spring arrival was a Cowbird and I will not even mention what I tried to turn him into. Sometimes I get overly impatient for new and/or rare birds to arrive! 

 Great day for Robins - lots of them around.

 Purple Finch - immature male maybe, I can see hints of raspberry color on the tips of wings.

Male Purple Finch.

Female & Male Evening Grosbeaks.









Enjoy your day!

Day 105 - 14th April 2016 - Tree Buds, Reflections and Flowers

Nice morning, I can have my coffee on the deck now (if I wear a jacket), watch the sun come up  and listen to the Song Sparrows welcoming the day.  I enjoy starting the day off like this. Hopefully our bad weather is passed. Last evening the Peepers were singing up a storm, could hear the ducks in the lake and the call of the Loon. I think Spring is here.
Well it cleared and turned out to be a beautiful Wednesday - sunny, warm and boy I wish I had been home and not in town. Overall it wasn't a bad day, got a few things done and some errands. Lunch at the Beandock catching up with the girls and my favourite Scallop, Bacon Wrap.

Trees are budding out.













The Cranberry ditch is full of water offering lovely reflections of the trees nearby.

And a few more flowers spring from the beds.







Enjoy your day!

Day 104 - 13th April 2016 - Daffodils and a Chickadee

Rain and then suppose to clear later today. That will be nice, especially if the sun comes out. Off to town - my weeks will soon be changed around and I'll be home on Wednesday. Soon time to return to work.
So Tuesday remained overcast and gray, although we were fortunate there wasn't a lot of rain. Just the odd shower now and then.  Not a lot of birds at the feeders - a few Purple Finches, Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, numerous Chickadees, some Blue Jays and part of the herd of Grackles. I find on milder days they look else where. The pair of Mallards roamed around the yard earlier in the day, rather fun to watch. She eats and he stands guard. The Robins are growing in numbers and I notice a few chasing one another and chattering away in the trees. Song Sparrows sing every morning now and the Flicker remains near by.
Not a great day for photos but I got out in the yard to take a few of the daffodils.












The regular ones are beginning to bloom too.

Always a lot of Chickadees around.







Enjoy your day!

Day 103 - 12th April 2016 - Bird Nest, the Lake and Grandmother's Journal

It's raining this morning -  it will be a mostly inside day. Oh well, I've got work in the kitchen to do and some computer work, not to mention I should return to the spring cleaning.
The weather yesterday wasn't quite as nice as I anticipated but I've done my rant on that already. I did get out for a long walk then a couple with Lexi, but it was quiet, nothing much around especially after all the exciting finds of the weekend. Week 5 of my online course - I think next Monday is the last one. Exercise class last night - worked us hard, hopefully I can still move.
Today would have been Grandmother's 98th birthday, so guess it's time to share a few days of her journal.
12 April 1977: To town as usual. Bob went to pickup up Mervyn to work on Friday. Tonight helped us. Girls, Barb & Judy over. Beautiful afternoon. Cold and overcast early looked like rain or snow. Bob late. Glad to see the girls. 
14 April 1977: Swallows! Supposed to rain. Bob went to town with me. Came out fine.North westerly winds, cold. Bob got another shot in his arm. Hope this does the trick. Mother & Jimmie came for a visit. Interviews for Jimmie in NS. Hope he lands something nearer here. Bob heard Swallows today, couldn't see them. 

Another nest I missed somehow along my winter walks. This one was filled with ice yesterday but soon the birds will be here and nesting again.

It's been a while since the lake was so calm, but the wind did pick up eventually.

The faithful Chickadee.








Enjoy your day!

Day 102 - 11th April 2016 - Indigo Bunting, Bald Eagle and Purple Finch

Monday morning, stars are all out but it's a bit chilly. Back to normal - roaming the hood, little spring cleaning and some computer work. Looks like the only fine day we will have this week. Maybe I'll skip the cleaning and stick to the outdoors today.
Even Mother Nature with her wicked trick of snow didn't ruin my Sunday. Got muffins done for Larry's lunches, made cookies for my cousin. She came for a visit and did my eyebrows. It was good to catch up with her since we don't see one another as much anymore. But I got a call from friends up the road about an Indigo Bunting, so I tossed Tammy out and yelled to Larry to "start the car, start the car". Of course he disappeared when we arrived, but a little patience and wet feet and he popped back out.  I had one in November 2014 in the yard one afternoon but not with the brilliant blue this one was sporting. It made for a great afternoon. And most of the snow has melted off.

 Male Indigo Bunting - what a fabulous blue bird.

 While waiting for the Bunting, a Bald Eagle was flying overhead.

 Waters are moving fast and high.

Purple Finch on another stop.






Enjoy your day!

Day 101 - 10th April 2016 - Common Eiders, Brant Geese and Black Crowned Night Heron

Even though  the heavy wet  white stuff  is coming down out there this morning, it's not going to prevent me from thinking spring is here and we are changing to a better season.
Had a great Saturday on Cape Sable Island. No new birds but 4 new ones for this season or 2016. Finally nice to see a few different ones.  We roamed around the Island looking for birds - having a little luck with a few but nothing out standing. Still was nice to get out there. Ran into Alix and went back down on Daniel's Head Beach - tide was in and the surf was rough, but we found the first of the Sanderlings to arrive for the season and one of the Piping Plovers that had been seen last week.  It was getting close to lunch time so we headed back to West Head Take Out (on my list of Spring things to do). Lunch was perfect, huge helpings of Seafood Platter for me and Clams for Larry. As we were eating, got a call from Alix, Ervin had spotted a Black Crown Night Heron - so back we went. We had scanned that spot for ducks, etc. several times earlier and hadn't spied him. After all that excitement we went off to Barrington, did our grocery shopping and then on to home. Larry went out to the woodpile and I puttered around in the house.

Male and Female Common Eiders in flight.

One of the 19 Sanderlings we spotted.

Piping Plover - home they have a successful nesting season.

Black Crowned Night Heron.

In flight.















Two of the Brant Geese. There were a number of the in various locations.







Enjoy your day!