Friday, December 16, 2016

A Bald Eagle Sits in the Sun Looking Out Upon a Field

  Currently -18°C

The lake has frozen over during the frigid weather,
with the exception of a small opening at the bridge
and in the river channel.


This eagle hasn't got all of his adult colouring yet. 
 I'm guessing that he is between three and four years old.  

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Waxing Moon


It has been a crisp, cold, sunny day here in the interior of the province (-19°C). This picture was taken at 3:30 p.m. when a waxing moon was seen above the shining poplar and spruce trees.

Winter Trees by William Carlos Williams

All the complicated details
of the attiring and
the disattiring are completed!
A liquid moon
moves gently among
the long branches.
Thus having prepared their buds
against a sure winter
the wise trees
stand sleeping in the cold.

~ William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Red Fox (Continued)





A little while later a disturbance caused the peacefully sleeping fox to jump up in alarm.  However, the fox wasn't ready to leave yet (she was probably still tired from her night of hunting) and rolled about in the snow for a few minutes before trotting off.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Red Fox




This morning I observed, for the second time this week, a red fox asleep on the hillside below the house.  On this occasion, the fox slept quite peacefully for some time, then woke up to have a good look around and subsequently went back to sleep with its bushy tail wrapped over its nose.

Red foxes are mostly nocturnal animals.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Immature Bald Eagle


There were two eagles - the immature eagle was perched on an uppermost branch of a spruce tree, and an adult, most likely the parent, was in a spruce tree at the end of the property.  The lake hasn't entirely frozen over yet, and the river channel is open so I imagine they are still able to catch fish.  But, as winter sets in, the eagles will have to scan for other sources of food.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Chickadees at the Bird Feeder


 A chickadee busily shells a sunflower seed to get at the meat inside,

while looking up to check for predators every few seconds.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Snowfall

Temperature; 0°C
It was still dark when we awoke to find ourselves in the midst of winter with a light snow falling.  For a time, nothing stirred until one of the lake's Bald Eagles flew to a spruce tree at the foot of the hill and perched in its topmost branches. S(he) was obviously settling in for a while to overlook the lake.  

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Juvenile White-throated Sparrow



At first I thought this juvenile was a White-crowned Sparrow, but the bit of yellow at the front of the eye makes me think it is a White-throated Sparrow.

As soon as the rain stopped, the birds came into the garden - young robins, sparrows, juncos and our resident grouse family. 

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Red-breasted Sapsucker


I think this is an immature Red-breasted Sapsucker.  Sapsuckers are medium-sized woodpeckers.  They drill holes in trees which they use as "wells" to obtain sap and insects.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Ruffed Grouse Family in the Garden





I counted eight grouse taking advantage of a sunny afternoon to do some feather maintenance.  They made shallow depressions in the dry soil and rolled around covering themselves with the dust, probably to get rid of mites. 

Monday, August 8, 2016

Pileated Woodpeckers


This is an exciting time for bird watching. The immature birds are fast becoming used to their surroundings.  The Pileated Woodpeckers have been close by for several weeks now, and it is interesting to see the young preening, being fed or just waiting and looking around.

I.D.  for immature Pileated Woodpeckers:  brown eyes and a shorter crest  

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Hermit Thrush and Rufus Hummingbird


The rain has been relentless for the past two days and nights, and during this time, there have been no bird songs and very few sightings.  Yesterday evening, I observed this little thrush and a hummingbird while they perched on the rail at the back of the house when it wasn't raining quite so bad.

 Rufus Hummingbird

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Northern Flicker (red-shafted)


It has rained heavily all day.  A break in the showers brings out the birds to feed in the wet grass, and for a brief moment there is a little sunshine.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Rufus Hummingbird


The Rufus perches on a slim Birch tree branch not too far from the feeders.  It is one of his favourite places to sit, and he doesn't seem to mind when the branch sways to and fro in the breeze as it often does.

The temperature this afternoon is 26° C.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

waiting for the lilacs to bloom


My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes in the devastating Fort McMurray wildfire.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Forest


"Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come."
~ Chinese proverb

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Northern Flicker



The Flickers must have a nest nearby.  I went for an evening stroll around the garden yesterday, hoping to see Hare-iet, when I noticed some movement in one corner.  I saw one flicker, and although I saw digging motions in another spot, the other flicker remained hidden.  They are very cautious birds, and if they detect me, they are gone.  I was able to get a picture of one of them searching in the weeds for insects, probably ants.

And Hare-iet.  She was there later, having her evening meal.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Snowshoe Hare

Hare-iet is changing to her summer coat.  She was wearing winter white the last time we saw her.


Spring is well on its way - earlier than usual.  The poplars have leafed out, and the shrubs are full of buds.  It is raining at the moment...  

Monday, March 21, 2016

Springtime


Crow with a twig


The crows are building a nest in this tree (middle of the picture)

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Trumpeter Swans



The wild swans
when they see me approach
paddle away.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Red-Breasted Nuthatch




Whoosh!  While I was waiting for the nuthatch to come back, a bigger bird flew close by me and landed on a poplar branch further into the trees.  Could it be that the Merlin is here already?  Although I didn't get a good look at him, the tail bands looked familiar.  He flew away shortly afterwards without turning around so I could see his face.