Bond Head/Reflections

 Marina at Bond Head #1

Thursday was overcast  and drizzly but warm.

Marina at Bond Head #2

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Carden Alvar/Friday Fences

 Fence along ranch boundary on Carden Alvar, Kirkfield, Ontario

This week the prairie smoke bloomed inside and...

Closer view of prairie smoke

outside the fences on Wylie Road.

Closeup of prairie smoke - the seed head about to open

Seed head open

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

B/Alphabe-Thursday

 Bubbles

 B is for BUBBLES

Personally, I think no one is ever too old to play with bubbles. I have a jar of bubble solution in my office and plan to play with it some day soon.  Want to come play with me?

Wands with many holes to make zillions of bubbles all at once

This is one activity that - except for the fancy plastic wands with many holes - hasn't changed much since I was a kid.

!

Both hands waving

Little sister is amazed by how clever big brother is!

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Sushi, Anyone?/Wild Bird

 Osprey  (Pandion haliaetus) carrying partially-eaten fish back to nest

It's not surprising that osprey are also called "fish hawks" as that is what they eat after diving into the water to catch their prey. Apparently they average at least one fish for every four dives.

Soaring over a body of water looking for lunch

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Nature Notes

My gardens May 25

My gardens are alive and well. I do love this time of year.

Largest square: blue columbine (Aquilegia), a plant that spreads itself by seed in my gardens.

Moving clockwise:  Soloman's seal (Polygonatum) is an elegan plant that grows well in the shade; pasque flower (Pulsatilla) seed heads that grow well on a sunny bank; lilac (Syringia vulgaris) that's blooming profusely in a dry corner of our yard; bridal wreath spirea that also survives in a dry area; and 'Purple Sensation (Allium) an ornamental onion that flourishes, even amongst weeds. (Which reminds me, I sure do hope I find some time to pull a few weeds this week!)
Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Dunlin/Our World

 Dunlin (Calidris alpina) in breeding plumage

Many shorebirds are traveling through Ontario on their way to their breeding grounds. When we see them again in the fall, they will be looking less colourful in their winter feathers.

At a stopover on their way to the Arctic

Here they are looking for crustaceans, mollusks, insects and worms.

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Bobolink/Birding

 Male bobolink (Dolichonyx orizivorus)

Sometimes when my husband and I are out birding we meet the sharing-est (is there such a word?) birders who tell us about little-known places such as this field where bobolinks return every year to nest.  We were in the area at just the perfect time to see many males perched on weeds guarding their females and eggs. Even though it doesn't look like it, they were quite far out in the fields. Yes, I used my zoom lens but I have also cropped the photos to help you see these unusual-looking birds.

Apparently this time of year bobolinks are the only North American birds with black chests and white on on their backs but, when identifying them, I look for the dull yellow patch on the back of the male's head.  In a few weeks - after breeding - his feathers will be a drab yellowish brown with bold black stripes, his camouflage colours.

 Still singing!

This guy is sitting atop weeds in a hayfield, his mate close by in a nest on the ground, well hidden in the tall grass.

I am linking with I'd Rather B Birdin'  HERE.

Busted!/Top Shot

UH-OH! Busted!

I don't think anyone needed to teach this young raccoon how to be naughty  but, in this case,  I bet the Devil made him/her do it...don't you? (wink, wink)

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Cruisin'/Weekend Reflections

Male northern shoveler amidst reflections

This flashy fella was out slowly surveying the territory last week. He came quite close to the lookout I was standing on,  then slowly paddled away. His mate was nowhere in sight so I'm thinking she may have been sitting on some eggs.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Flycatcher/Friday Fences

Flycatcher waiting on fence for a yummy bug to fly by

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

A/Alphabe-Thursday

Azalea in my mother-in-law's yard

A is for AZALEA and ADOPTED

Hi, all. I'm back from a difficult few days in Upstate New York where my mother-in-law - a very lovely lady - just passed away.

You know all those bad jokes and stories about mothers-in-law? That wasn't my husband's mother the jokes were talking about. My mother-in-law treated me like one of her own kids. In fact, I was called the ADOPTED daughter.

While we were saying our last good-byes, this lovely azalea bloomed in her side yard.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Apple Blossoms/Top Shot

Crab apple blossom 

This is a small tree laden with blossoms. My husband grew this tree from seeds taken from  a crabapple tree growing on Toronto streets. Trees grown from seeds are not reliably beautiful but this time we were lucky!

Wild apple blossoms

I think we'll actually have apples on our wild trees this year! Last year we had a killing frost at just the wrong time so very little fruit was set.

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Main Street/Weekend Reflections

 Reflection in sign on The Church, Stouffille

I really don't know anything about this church except that the sign suggests to me that the congregation here wants their church to fit into the modern world. The church itself is an old one.

More legible

The sign is actually easier to read than it looks here. I took the photos from angles that maximized the reflections.
To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Porch/Friday fences

Porch with fence, Stouffville, Ontario

An older home on Main Street has been converted into an attractive office building for small businesses.  It seems warm and cozy. The plantings and bench make it even more so.  Doesn't it make you want to find out what businesses are there?

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

Z/Alphabe-Thursday

 Cedar waxwing

Z is for ZENITH,  ZOUNDS!,  ZOOMED,  ZILLIONS, ZEALOUS

If A is at the bottom of an alphabet tower, then Z is at the tower's zenith.  ZOUNDS! After 26 weeks we have reached the alphabet's peak, apex, summit, climax, summit and - yes - zenith.

My camera lens has ZOOMED in on ZILLIONS of  ZEALOUS celebrants including  a cedar waxwing atop the zenith of a twig.

 Yellow warbler

yellow warbler at the zenith of a cedar shrub,

Great blue heron at ZENITH of branch 

and great blue heron near the zenith of a branch on a dead tree.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Green Heron/Wild Bird

Green heron (Butorides virescens)

If I had to choose a favourite bird to watch, I'd likely choose the green heron. They are colourful characters. And they are SMART, one of a few animals known to use tools such as bread crusts, string or insects to lure fish.

It's a small heron, a wading bird, frequenting swamps, marshes and streams.

Same heron in different light

Until this one, I had seen only herons with yellow legs. Apparently this is a variety of green heron found in Florida. Hey, it must have heard how great Canada is and decided to visit!

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Nature Notes/ May 13

Seen on nature walks last week

We had some glorious weather last week...followed by cold snow flurries and cold on Sunday. I'm hoping fruit trees and shrubs don't get hit with a nasty frost like they did last year!

Meanwhile, the outdoors has called us out to enjoy the season's abundance. The largest square: a song sparrow in between songs. He had been singing his little heart out and after this photo op he continued.

Moving clockwise: mourning cloak sunning itself. wild strawberries tempting bees, groundhog wondering what delicious crops the farmer was going to plant this year, trillium (Ontario's provincial flower) adorning a deciduous woods, and a yellow warbler sitting on a still leafless branch.


Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Gaggle of Goslings/Our World

 They've hatched!

Canada Geese are social beings from the start!

My husband and I spent Saturday at Tiny Marsh, a wildlife area an hour or so north of where we live. The day started out chilly and windy, but as the day wore on the sun came out. No matter the weather, goslings and their parents were out and about. LOTS of them!

The goslings in the photo above are NOT one family. Geese sometimes lay as many as 12 eggs but usually five to seven. Hey, apparently it takes a little over a day to lay each egg!

 A family with five goslings

Newly hatched goslings can swim right away. Mom and pop both accompany their babies when they go for a swim.

Canada geese remain in flocks except while nesting

Almost extinct a century ago, Canada geese are often considered pests in urban areas now. That's why parks put up signs urging people to NOT feed the geese.

FYI: The oldest known Canada goose lived for a little more than 30 years.

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Palm Warbler/Birding

 Palm warbler  (Setophage palmarum)

Back from it's winter home in the southern U.S. or northern Caribbean, this palm warbler won't be finding any palms for a few months since an estimated 98% of them breed in bogs and fens of Canada's boreal forests.

Eastern form, which is brighter in colour than the western

Dozens of palm warblers were flitting about Tiny Marsh yesterday, alighting for mere seconds on branches before jumping to others.  This tiny bird looked so handsome on this maple branch, the leaves just emerging. His rusty cap and yellow markings go well with the leaves, don't you think?

I am linking with I'd Rather B Birdin'  HERE.

Pasque Flowers/Top Shot

 Pink pasque flowers(Pulsatilla)

My absolutely favourite spring flowers. These are in my gardens.

 Lavender pasque flowers

I love the spring colours and how these plants bloom prolifically.

Light pink pasque flowers

I also love the seedheads these plants produce,  but they won't appear for a while yet.

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

High Water/Weekend Reflections

Fence in flooded marsh

This spring, the water has been high in marshy areas. I liked this because with the reflection the fence seems to be pointing at something...something imaginary or perhaps invisible.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Mother and Child/Friday Fences

Sticking close to mom behind the fence

Cute little one, don't you think?

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

I am linking to Rurality Bloghop  HERE

Y/Alphabe-Thurday

 Yellow daffodil with orange

Y is for YELLOW in my YARD

I have been out gardening and I dirty knees to prove it! The weather has suddenly turned wonderful! These daffodils are soaking up some sunshine.

Yellow forsythia

The forsythia bush out front is also celebrating the fine weather.

 Yellow dandelion

Oh, yes, I do have these dandy little blossoms in my yard. It saddens me that so many people think they are ugly. They don't last long so I enjoy them while they bloom.

 Oops! RED tulips

These tulips are indeed red but if you look carefully you can see some yellow on both blossoms.

Grape hyacinths and bumblebee

Yep, blue flowers, but look at that bumblebee with yellow fuzz.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Yellow Warbler/Wild Bird

 Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Remember the lyrics "Yellow bird up high in banana tree"?  Well this warbler was actually in a willow tree and he was not alone like Harry Belafonte in the song. This guy was with a number of his friends hunting down caterpillars and other insects.

Looking down

Yellow warblers are little birds that frequent the tops of shrubs and small trees such as willows, alders and cottonwoods in wetland areas.

Looking up

And the males love to sing!
I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Early May/Nature Notes

 Snail shell

I seem to have been in watery places during the past week. Green leaves have suddenly appeared on a few varieties of trees, but other branches are still brown and bare. So instead of looking up, I looked down and saw this snail shell.

 Pond reflection in a still brown marsh

Still looking down, I noticed this reflection. Lots of brown. But the temperature has been warm last weekend so I imagine there's a LOT more green now.

 Caspian tern with fish in its mouth

When I looked up, this tern was patrolling the marsh - back and forth - until it captured this tasty treat. I wonder if he was taking the fish home to share or if he was planning to eat it all himself.

 Manitoba maple (a.k.a. box elder) in flower

Back to eye level, one of the first trees to leaf out here was the Mantoba maple.

Norther harrier (a.k.a marsh hawk)

And then looking up again, another hunter flew over the marsh, this one flying quite low. The harrier was looking for a yummy morsel, such as a mammal or maybe a tender bird. He suddenly disappeared so he found something but I didn't see what he captured.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.