One week, two visits

 I'm not certain where this week went but the time certainly flew by  The first few days were not particularly memorable.  A little shopping, housework, yard work, and several walks - one with the camera in hand.  Oh, and lots of Olympic games watching.  Maybe I do know where the time went. :) 

On Friday, I had a visit with a former co-worker who continues to be a good friend.  She was coming to the city to spend the weekend with her daughter M, and since M had to work, D came to my house to visit for a few hours before they met up.  It was wonderful and strange all at the same time.  We've had pretty regular phone calls over the past couple of years, but this was the first face-to-face meeting with a friend in my home for many months.  Since we've both been fully vaccinated we decided it was safe to do so, and we even hugged!  We talked, we laughed, and shared stories of when we were working, about our grandkids, and life as we've known it since retirement.  I cannot explain how much those few hours meant to me.  She's invited me to drive up to visit her and I may just decide to do that one day. 

Back to the normal, here are a few of the photos from my walk earlier this week.

You likely won't recall but I mentioned sometime ago that there was a family of Hungarian partridges living in the nearby park.  This is one of the parents, the little ones were far too speedy for me to capture them with the camera.  

Sadly, the water level in the creek has dropped again. There were only a few ducks on the creek, and I didn't see the killdeer nor any blackbirds either.

These next two photos make me laugh.  There is a path that leads from the creek to a yard where I assume the family are providing feed for the ducks.  I spotted this duck trotting along the path heading back to the creek.  The grass is a fair height so all I could initially see was the single duck.

But she wasn't alone at all.  As they came out of the grass and crossed the path into next portion of grass on the side of the creek, I enjoyed the march of the ducklings.  

The city was busy planting more trees in the park.  There were three or four news ones already in the ground and the water truck was giving them a good soaking in.  I hope they make it through this heat. Two years ago, they planted a number of evergreens, most of which have since died.

Over at the pond there were many ducks, several geese and two pelicans.  Okay, don't laugh, but my eyesight isn't the best so I wasn't sure what I was looking at. If you've ever wondered what a pelican looked like from the rear...this is it.

Speaking of rears, this photo was another that made me laugh. Those little white butts look so darn cute!

This next series of the second pelican illustrate it's feeding technique.  It looked to me as it crouched low in the water to be listening for somthing.

When it finds it's prey, it quickly spears the water with that long beak.

Then the head came and the bird swallowed what it had captured. I assuming it would be a frog or something similar as there are no fish in the pond that I know of.  

I've walked in the evening a few times this week, without the camera.  The rabbits/hares have been out in the force at that time of day.  I've counted twenty or more in the large open areas of the park.  There is clover growing there and it must be very tasty.

On Saturday morning, I headed out for a short visit with D and Eli.  She had her telephone appointment with her doctor earlier in the week; he ordered a medication change for her and I picked up the order on Friday.  Had I mailed them she wouldn't have received them until mid-next week due to the long weekend.  I haven't been there for a month so I was quite happy to make the drive.  However, there is no a/c in their house so one night's stay is plenty in the continuing heat.  (It been around the 30C/86F range for what seems like weeks now.)

After a bit of housecleaning and laundry was accomplished or underway, we headed over to the park.  One of Eli's pre-K friends was there and he had a great time playing in the water with W and one of his little cousins. He and I returned to the park after lunch.  He didn't want to play in the water, but rather wanted G'ma to push him higher and higher on the swing. 

Back at home we puttered around in the yard.  D mowed the back lawn, while I deadheaded and watered her containers.  I had a bit of water left in the watering can so I poured it over Eli.  He thought that was a great game. Then he pulled his plastic sled from the garage and insisted G'ma pull him around the yard on it.  Three times around the yard was the best I could do.  He was kind enough to let me sit and read a book while he played for a bit, then he brought his tablet out and sat quietly in a chair playing his games.

I planned to leave early this morning to avoid the heat but stuck around until D had mowed the side yard.  I did a little weeding, while Eli played. He requested and I agreed to three more times around the yard with the sled by which time I was worn out. He's heavy and pulling a sled on the grass is not nearly as easy as on the snow. I'm looking forward to their next visit in mid-August.  I don't own a sled. (Yes, he has his sunglasses upside down - he prefers to wear them this way.)

And here we are, at the start of August. The heat is forecast to continue, at least until mid-month.  Even so, the nights will get cooler and summer will start to wind down.  I noticed this morning my tomatoes are beginning to ripen on the vine.  I've got one small green pepper and a half dozen red peppers (still green) growing quickly.  The petunias are starting to look leggy so they'll need a haircut soon. The yard work won't end for some time yet.  Nor does the housework, which reminds me....

Have a good week everyone!

  

A Brief Reprieve

The cool weather moved out and we're enjoying a few days of absolutely gorgeous weather.  D, Eli and I walked on Sunday and Monday, and I headed out this morning.  I had my camera with me today, and have some photos to share.

I think this rabbit thought he was hidden in the shade.  Sorry, buddy you won't be hidden until the snow flies.  Just the other day, the rabbits I saw were still mostly brown, but they're obviously changing fast.

I was surprised to find geese at the creek.  Two were standing guard while the others fed.

There were ducks too, enjoying a feed.

Over at the pond, the geese were flying in and landing.  These four chose to land on the ice.  I laughed as they skidded about 3 to 4 feet!

We had a high temperature yesterday of 20C (72F).  Even with the warm temperatures the ice on the pond didn't entirely melt.  The water level is dropping significantly - with the sand bar in the background.  I'm guessing this is being done by the city though I don't recall it this way last year.

These geese took the more traditional option of landing in the open water.

The thistles have dry remnants of themselves.  I thought about clipping a few and bringing them home but I'm sure they'd just fall apart.

Finally, from Sunday evening a couple of photos of the eastern sky over the neighbour's homes.

The sky was so pretty, and I lucked out as the show lasted just mere minutes.  D went out with her phone when I came back in and missed it entirely.

The nice weather will be with us through Thursday, then we'll see the temperatures drop back to just above the freezing mark on Friday and even colder over the weekend.  Along with the cold, we may get as much as 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) of snow!  I'm definitely going to enjoy this lovely weather while it lasts.

Take care everyone!

My wild life

I went for a walk this morning, taking along my camera AND a camera card. I did have to stop at one point to change out the battery, this time I was prepared.  When I got home I realized I'd take close to 90 photos, so although I've started this week's post I'll do this separately (and you won't see all 90 photos...sometimes the camera lens doesn't see what I think it will).

My route takes me through a small park about a block from my home.  Today I saw a bunny but it was smarter than I am, and while I got glimpses there are no photos.  This park is well treed and I noticed lots of branches down from the recent winds.  Once through the park, I reach a main street where I cross into another park.  It backs onto a school yard on one side and condo units on the other.  It's has less trees and I noticed the clover is blooming throughout.  I bet the bunnies are enjoying that...though if they were there they were laying low. Further along I noticed the city is allowing the grass in certain areas to grow tall.  Again, great hiding spot for the bunnies.

The path leads to the shallow creek with a bridge crossing.  It was here that I that I found the killdeer and I actually heard them before I saw them.  It's the first time I've seen them at the creek, and there were two pair!

Edit - Okay, this is NOT the killdeer - I grabbed the wrong photo.  It is a duck obviously, a mallard.

Here's the Killdeer...

I'm not certain if this one was nesting or not. I suspect not, because most times they'll run like the dickens away from it to avoid it being seen.

All along the creek were families of ducks.  Since they all looked pretty similar I won't share a bunch of photos.  I though this was cute though...mama is keeping all her ducks in a row. 

If my research is correct, this is a Marbled Godwit.  The first photo is a little dark, but I caught it in mid-stride, I think the second photo will be easier to make out the markings.  I've never seen one before, and what I found most interesting was it's movements, it kept bobbing it's head up and down, and the call, which sounded almost like "welp".  I suspect there was another nearby, perhaps close to where I was walking though it was hidden, because the bird seemed to be a bit agitated by my presence.

I left it in peace and walked on to cross the street to take me to Riverbend.  A walker passing by told me there were pelicans at the pond!  I haven't seen them there before, though have seen them elsewhere.

First though, I spotted this pile of ducklings.  Aren't they just adorable?  I had stopped to change out the battery, sitting at a nearby bench.  They couldn't have cared less that I was there.

And here they are!  Another walker said there had been eight of the birds earlier this week.  She lives in a condo unit that looks out over the pond, lucky woman! I'd get nothing done in the spring I'd be so busy watching the action.  Speaking of action, I was fortunate to see the pelicans fly off.

They look so awkward when the start off but are quite graceful in the air.

The cormorant was still hanging out there. (Thanks Fuzzy Gnome for identifying this one for me). It likes this perch but did go for a swim when the pelicans were flying overhead.

I always enjoy seeing the synchronized diving of the ducks.  There must be something good to eat down there.

I'm assuming these are a pair; again based on my research I believe they are American Black ducks.  The male has the yellow orange bill, while the female has a dull olive colored bill.  I'm excited to see a new species.

I left Riverbend, took a right turn and walked along the neighbourhood streets to the small wooded park.  In the park were a couple of noisy crows. No photo though I did caw back at them a couple of times. 

While I working on this post, I heard the sound of a different bird.  It was in my spruce but I couldn't see it.  A little while later I saw it fly over to the light standard across the street. It's not the best photo, but it's a woodpecker.

Not long after, I looked up to see a bunny hopping up my driveway.  When it spotted me, it stopped and hunkered down for a second, before it hopped under the spruce tree.  I think it's still there waiting for me to get out of the way so it can head for the backyard.  

What a wild life I lead!  On that note, I'm going to head to the backyard myself to relax on the deck.  Maybe bunny will join me. Have a great day everyone!

Before the wind blew

The sun is shining on this Sunday afternoon and the wind is a'blowing with gusts anywhere from 20-70 km/h (12-43 mph). This wasn't unexpected so I decided to walk earlier this morning. I'm grateful there is a great walking paths nearby and especially grateful for the wildlife that show themselves to me as I walk.

These two headed my way as other walkers were headed their way so they were caught in the middle. I'm sure they were wishing we'd all go away!

I walked over to the creek hoping to find some red-winged black birds.  The city has obviously cleared the banks and removed all the plants that were there.  It is very disappointing as the birds won't have places to hid their nests or the reeds to sit and sing from. 

This bunny was keeping an eye on me as I skirted past him.  

I heard this gull before he flew over me. (I won't tell you what my brother calls them, it isn't polite)

Why did the goose cross the road?  Well, based on these next few photos it was all because of a female.  She stayed on the shore and let the guys duke it out.

I've never seen these ducks before; I believe they are canvasbacks based on my internet search. I've sent the photo to my brother for confirmation. He was a conservation officer before he went into policing.  

Along the way there were a number of pairs relaxing in the sun.  These two didn't even budge as I walked by.
Finally, what a difference a week makes.  Last week the pond was still mostly covered in ice.  Not today!

There didn't seem to be as many birds around either, but our local man-made lake a few kilometres away is likely open as well. Hmmm...maybe it's time for a walk around the lake!

Take care and stay well everyone!