A summer sky,

a swallow and. . .something's out of place here,

snarled fishing line.

During the summer, children on bicycles and occasionally adults come to the bridge to try their luck in the waters below. Now, at this particular spot extra care must be taken not to have your line arc too much when casting or else it will end up snagged on the telephone cable.

Even though this happens time and time again, year after year, it doesn't dissuade anybody from fishing here. Still they come, especially the children, to try their luck at the bridge.


Many thanks to Tom, Sandy, Klaus and Imac at Sky Watch Friday.

Today's post is at
For the Joy of Flowers

Calming the Mind

Too much knowledge

leads to over activity;

Better to calm the mind.

The more you consider,

The greater the loss;

Better to unify the mind.

~ Shih Wang Ming (6th century)

Wordless - Canola

Wordless (Tuesday edition)

CC #16 - Safe Crossing

Please Watch For Wildlife On The Road

Please click on the badge below to see more Camera Critter participants or to add your name to the list. Thank you to our host, Misty Dawn.

Sky Watch - Osprey Update

About a month ago I posted some pictures of an Osprey nest for Sky Watch Friday. The Osprey's head peeking over the edge was the only indication that there was an actual bird in the nest. Last Sunday we drove by again, and I'm happy and excited to announce that the Ospreys have become devoted parents to, not one, but two chicks (we saw only two). I wanted very much to share this special event with all of you, and I hope you will enjoy the photos of this amazing raptor.

The Osprey is found worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica.

(please click on pictures for better viewing)

Adult bird and one chick

This photo shows another little head
(The structure on which the nest is built
is an unfinished hay barn.)

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin"
~William Shakespeare

Many thanks to the team, Tom, Sandy, Klaus and Imac at Sky Watch Friday. Please follow the link to join in the fun or view some fabulous sky pictures.

Pelicans

(please click on pictures for better viewing)

American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
on a submerged log

This is the large white bird we saw on Sunday. It was such a nice surprise, so unexpected, to come upon these wonderful, sedate birds on a calm interior lake - no one else around, just us and the birds. Well, the black flies were here also, but they couldn't spoil the moment.

Unlike the Brown Pelican, which dives for fish, the White Pelican scoops up the fish from a shallow part of the lake. Their breeding territories range from central to western North America.

Wordless - Interior Lake

Wordless (Tuesday version)

Bald Eagle

I think this week my posts are going to be mainly about birds. Yesterday, we were very fortunate to observe some large raptors, as well as the Ospreys and also what I'm referring to now as "the surprise bird", just because my husband and I were astounded at finding such an unlikely bird here. But, the first sighting was the Bald Eagle.

This Bald Eagle was looking a bit bedraggled perched in his usual high spot that overlooks the lake. The only explanation I can think of is that he had grazed the water with his wings when he was fishing and got a little too wet. And here he sat drying off.

Apparently, if an eagle has gotten hold of a larger fish and won't let go, he can be pulled down into the water. Although the eagle will use his large wings to swim should he get into trouble, he could easily drown if he can't get back to land quickly. In cold waters, he would soon perish from hypothermia. Source: American Bald Eagle Information

He must have been all right because when we returned this way, he was gone.

CC #15 - Bird of Prey

(please click on the photos to enlarge)

Merlin Falco columbarius, Adult
Size: 24 - 30 cm (9 - 12 in.)
Notice the blue-gray beak with yellow
toward the head

This may be one of the Merlin fledglings, but I'm not positive.
You can just make out a bit of the white band on
the bird's tail.

We have a Merlin Falcon pair nesting in the nearby woods this year. A few evenings ago I happened to be outside when they were flying about and making quite a ruckus. We hear them most often in the morning and evening, and we have had to get used to their shrill vocalizations. We certainly know when they are around. On this particular evening they perched several times in the high branches of a tree, and I managed to get these photos.

I didn't know anything about these small falcons before their arrival this spring and had to do some research on them.

Some interesting facts:

• also known as a Pigeon Hawk
• migratory, wintering in more temperate climates
  
• Merlin Falcons are very swift and agile in the air, catching their prey in flight
  
• Adults are preyed upon by larger raptors (Goshawks, for instance)
  
• They are very territorial, aggressively attacking eagles if need be
  
• 80% of their diet consists of small birds up to the size of a Rock Dove (Pigeon)
  
• They do not build their own nests but will use abandoned nests of crows, jays, magpies
• used in falconry all the way back to medieval times
  

The Merlin Falcon Foundation has some excellent examples of their various calls that will give you an idea of what we are hearing. It's no wonder that the chickadees, sparrows, robins and other birds are very shy at the present time, remaining well hidden in the trees.

A big "thank you" to our host, Misty Dawn. To join in or view all the wonderful photos, please click on the badge below.

Sky Watch Friday

Hello Sky Watchers,

I took these sky pictures on Wednesday evening between six and seven near our house. It's a funny old life, isn't it? I grew up a city kid, and never in a million years would I have thought I'd be living in a forest of tall trees. But, here I am. . .

Grateful thanks to our hosts, Tom, Sandy and Imac at Sky Watch Friday.
To join in or view, please follow the link.

Reflections

Wordless (Thursday version)

Out and About,

Yesterday was sunny and warm
Max. temperature: 20C (68F)

Near our rural mailbox

I don't know the name of these wildflowers, but they look
very pretty growing just steps away from the mailboxes.

A close-up of the flower and a busy bee.

Robin with an insect or worm.

At the bridge

The Yellow Water Lilies are beautiful right now.
The lily pads, before they unfold, have been described
as resembling "arrowheads".

Not all of the lily "cups" have opened yet.

Back at home

"Shakin' all over" after a bath

A sparrow, I think.

9:00 a.m.

Note on the flowers:
Michele commented that these might be Lupine. I had the same thought when I first saw these flowers near the mailbox. But, I dismissed that idea. "Lupines! Couldn't be, these are so much smaller." In past years, I've seen a few robust Lupine here closer to the ditches, but not like this. It's amazing that they even grow in this spot at all! What determined little plants! Thanks for the information, Michele.

CC - Squirrel's Harvest

I think she's gone inside. I'll make a dash for it now!

This strawberry isn't entirely ripe, but it still tastes delicious!

Do I look guilty?

I hope you enjoyed seeing my little friend and will visit other wonderful participants by clicking on the badge below.

Strawberry Mystery

I didn't put this strawberry here, but I'm pretty sure I know "who done it". More will be revealed tomorrow on my Camera Critter post.

Sky Watch

This was the way the sky looked at nine this morning when I was outside sitting on the steps.

Swirling clouds urged on by the wind,

disperse and spread out across the sky.

Sky Watch Friday is hosted by Tom at Welcome to Wiggers World. It's a pleasure to participate.

Rain Drops Keep Falling

The underside of a Cottonwood Leaf
and a collection of rain drops

Perhaps we are going to have one of those wet summers after all. Already people are asking, "How did you like our three days of summer?" A rainy June, now a rainy July (so far).

A Moody Day

This was the kind of day it was yesterday in the central interior of British Columbia - cool, mostly overcast, with barely any sunshine and a smidgen of rain. I spent much of it weeding, trimming around the edges where garden area meets forest, tidying up the hops plants (ornamental, not beer) and picking the first strawberries before Squirrel beats me to them. My sad strawberry patch really needs some extra work, but we're still getting a fair crop. I've had the plants for several years now, and I think I'll have to put in new ones next spring.

This is looking southwest

and north.

Hello Dear Friends,

Monday's post will be at For the Joy of Flowers

Hope you can drop by.

April

Camera Critters Sunday Meme #13

I saw this lone Mule Deer in a field recently. I was so happy to get a picture or two of the doe contentedly grazing before I was detected. And happier still when this beautiful creature went back to dining on that lush grass after looking in my direction. I really wasn't that close (had to use the zoom on the camera), and she didn't seem particularly bothered by my presence. I guess she chalked me up as being just a silly curious onlooker - harmless.

At Home

For two days now we've had some late afternoon thunderstorm activity, together with wind and lots of rain. It doesn't last long, but it means having to shut down my computer for a bit.

The other night the thunder claps were right overhead which made me jump out of my skin more than once. Our poor, frightened dog kept very close to us the whole time.

Yesterday we checked on things outside -

• rain gauge read 12mm (about 1/2in.)
• garden looking a little soggy and flattened but all right
• puddles here and there

These are some pictures I took when I went for a walk down the road -

At the first corner I heard the Pileated Woodpecker
hammering away on this power pole. I haven't
seen him for awhile.

There are lots of wildflowers in bloom,
spots of colour everywhere I look.

My little companion among the daisies.

Sky Watch

I was out on a quiet country road one day
taking pictures of the wildflowers
when I looked up to see

an airplane's vapour trail

not one, but two

paths cutting across the sky,

bringing chaos and confusion for several minutes

until planes and trails vanished from sight,
leaving the sky peaceful once more.

Grateful thanks to Tom of Welcome to Wiggers World for hosting Sky Watch Friday.

Wordless Wednesday

A Wish

Happy Canada Day

"Our home and native land"

In memory of my great grandparents and my grandparents

Every year on this day especially, my thoughts turn to the ancestors, and I like to recall what I know of their lives and beginnings.

I hope they look favourably upon us and do not think us too greedy or selfish. It's true that we are making some mistakes concerning our environment, but my heartfelt wish is that we can also make the corrections needed for our future generations.