Fine Feathers

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds." ~ Aesop

I consider myself very fortunate to live just steps away from a beautiful park with walking paths and a pond. It's home, breeding ground and stopover for many different species of animals - particularly birds. A brisk walk around the pond only takes about ten minutes but I often find myself taking closer to a half hour to make the circuit because looking for, enjoying and snapping photos of wildlife takes time.

A couple of days ago, I stepped outside my door and onto the sidewalk which leads to the park. I walked about three steps and looked down to see a dead Mourning dove. It wasn't bloody or twisted. It actually looked rather peaceful, but a semi-busy sidewalk was not a suitable final resting place for any creature. I returned home, got a small bag, collected the dove and brought it with me into the park where I was able to give it a more dignified location beneath some brambles.

I removed it from the bag, and before I placed it in the snow, I opted to pluck one of its tail feathers to add to this beautiful feather keeper which Ellen so kindly gifted to me a few months ago.

As I continued walking, I heard the familiar "chip" sound of a Cardinal and I paused to look up to see if I could locate him by his brilliant red plumage.

It turns out that it was this more subtle, young cutie who was doing the calling. I think the female Cardinal with all her hues of gold and red is even more beautiful than the male.

Before I ventured much further, I could hear and see what I thought was a large flock of sparrows occupying the branches of a tree. I nearly kept on walking but something rosy caught my eye.

I moved in for a closer look and saw a number of these little sweeties. I wasn't sure what I was looking at and needed to check with a bird identification website. Even then, I wasn't positive so I turned to my other birding resource and he confirmed that this was indeed a House finch. I don't think I've ever seen one before.

I wandered down to the pond which was filled with dozens of Mallards. Typically, they're calm and reasonably quiet emitting a steady stream of murmurs and occasional quacks.

Every now and then one of them get a bit territorial and a fight ensues. This noisy altercation lasted for about one minute. Water splattered everywhere, and other ducks swam off to allow them enough space.

Eventually, they parted and each continued on as if nothing had happened.

Except for this proud fellow who declared himself winner and still champion.

I had nearly forgotten that I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the Wood duck who tends to spend his time with our Mallards. I was scanning the pond when I heard his tell-tale high pitched kind of whistle.

He swam right into my view finder. Thanks, Woodrow! I took about two dozen photos of him and I'll probably share more of them another time but for now, I hope you enjoy this picture of a most handsome fellow.

Birds of a Feather

All images were shot around my beautiful park pond, just a few steps from my front door. Come walk with me, will you?



On this very hot day, three Mallards took shelter in the brush of an old fallen tree. The dappled sunlight danced on their moulting feathers.




This young robin was singing a cheery song. I interpreted its music as "Come take my picture!"




A pretty female cardinal hopped along the path, close enough to wander into camera range. There's a family or two of those residing at our park.





Like most bodies of water, ours has the ubiquitous sea gull. This one was just shooed off by the newcomers to our lake...




The Caspian tern. There's a family of them which we've seen daily for the past few weeks. The parents seem to be teaching the young to fish. They're a noisy lot, and very difficult for me to capture in flight.




But I did. Hopefully it won't be the best shot I'll ever get but for now, I wanted to share this elegant, streamlined bird.




This feather was floating in the water close to the dock - just not close enough to reach. It might belong to a gull or a tern.




Along with gulls and terns, we have several species of fishing birds. Among them, is this magnificent beauty - the Great Blue heron. He's a regular visitor each spring through autumn.




Earlier in the week I was gifted with seeing two of them in flight together. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a really clear shot of them but I was so thrilled about seeing the pair, that I wanted to share anyway.




This is a related bird - smaller but every bit as lovely. He's the Green heron. I've only seen him once before at this pond but this year, he's a regular visitor.




Another fishing bird is the beautiful Belted Kingfisher. You can hear his rattle-like cry which announces his presence.

I suppose the fishing is decent at our little pond. This is a relief to know after last spring's infuriating oil spill which killed a few of our beautiful Canada geese. It's been wonderful to see life thriving at my little oasis. Thanks for joining me on my walk.

This was a scheduled post. If all goes according to plans, we're probably back up at the cottage for a few days. I'll be around to read comments and catch up with your blog posts shortly after I return.

Spring Bling

“And the day came when the risk to remain in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.” ~ Anais Nin





“Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May.” ~ William Shakespeare





“Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson





"Let a thousand flowers bloom and we'll see what flourishes.” ~ Clara Hemphill





“Here and there you'd see a tree that was budding or grass trying to grow. There was hope.” ~ Carolyn Hunter





"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds." ~ Aesop





"A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song." ~ Chinese Proverb





"Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best." ~ Henry Van Dyke





"When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck." ~ Richard C. Cushing





"To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also." ~ Igor Stravinsky





"Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath." ~ Michael Caine





"If you keep your feathers well oiled the water of criticism will run off as from a duck's back."
~ Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards

Wings and Other Things

I'll probably return to my colour-themed posts somewhere down the road - there are still a few shades which I haven't explored but for now, I'm posting a few new photos taken over the last several weeks. All of them were snapped either in my own back yard or around my local park. Please remember to click on each of the photos to enlarge them.




This little guy kept a wary eye on me while I prepared to refill the bird feeder and suet. Taken through glass. (please click to enlarge)





He knew it wouldn't be long before I'd also toss some peanuts out for his snack. (please click to enlarge)





Since the squirrels and back yard birds are taken care of, let's see what we can find around the pond. (please click to enlarge)





A sudden flurry of activity (namely one crazy little Jack Russell Terrier) sent these Mallards flying to the safety of the other side of the pond. (please click to enlarge)





On this day, as has happened other times on my walks, a fluffy little Northern Mockingbird seemed intent upon making sure I noticed him. He sat and watched me while I spoke to him and took some photos. (please click to enlarge)





By the time I moved along, the sun was beginning to descend in the sky, creating that magic hour which I love so much. The Queen Anne's Lace of last summer seemed to enjoy its warmth. (please click to enlarge)





On the other side of the pond, there was a lot of Cardinal activity. A large flock of these red beauties seem to hang out in this one particular area. This male perched on a branch above me. (please click to enlarge)





A lovely female landed on the fence post of a neighbouring back yard. Aren't her colours just incredible? (please click to enlarge)





Approaching the dock, I found this to be an unusual place for a snow angel. It was actually formed on the semi-frozen surface of the pond. This means that someone stepped out on mushy ice to make their wings. It's a good thing the ice wasn't any softer at the time. (please click to enlarge)





Later in the day, the sun was setting by the dam end of the pond. This is just one of the concrete posts and the sun reflecting in the icy surface. (please click to enlarge)

Thanks for joining me.

Benny and Other Flakes

Walking and photography go hand in hand for me. I only need two hands to operate the camera but the challenge comes into play when Benny joins me. Now, ordinarily Frank handles the leash, and he endures the arm-jerks which signal Benny's desire to forge ahead. I can roll my eyes through his quickly-executed run-jump-tackle sequences which he does with all four paws when he's impatient and wants to move on, but his Herculean tugs and jolts make sharp pictures an impossibility. This past weekend, Frank wasn't feeling tip-top, so I was dog-walker and frustrated photographer rolled into one.

The snow poses yet another difficulty where Ben is concerned. When walking alongside me, he looks at every wayward bit of snow my boots kick up, as a contest. In his frenzied little doggie mind, he believes he has to consume each and every flake. So he hovers near my left foot, and watches each time it lifts a clump of snow. Then he pounces on the newly-landed white stuff, and devours it. That was how the first third of our walk went. Hover. Pounce. Devour.

The second third consisted of him shivering uncontrollably and stopping every three minutes to pee what appeared to be enough urine to overflow from an elephant's bladder. And yet he managed to repeat that shaky stream no less than three times over the next ten minutes. When he wasn't peeing, he was barfing. That crazy little pup was filled to capacity from one end to the other and his body did what it could to expel the volume of snow he ingested. Shiver. Pee. Barf.

During this same phase of our walk, I tried to distract him and keep him moving, so that he'd warm up. Benny can't resist a stick. If I have one in my hand, he wants it. He'll jump alongside me, trying to clamp his teeth down upon it. Once he gets it in his possession, he'll challenge me to come get it back, stick at his front paws, tail wagging, head cocked to the side and eyes locked on my hand. If I make a move toward it, he's off like a shot, prize in mouth. In fact, the only way to get it back from him is to find another. Once he sees the new one, he'll drop the first, leaving it forgotten while he tries to master a new conquest. I kept him occupied this way, occasionally allowing him to chase it down and trot along with his trophy. Jump. Chase. Trot.

On the final third of our walk, Benny had warmed up considerably. He was no longer shivering, and both his stomach and bladder seemed to be devoid of melted snow. This of course meant that he was ready to go back to hover-pounce-devour mode. The cold discomfort he suffered minutes earlier was already forgotten. Such is the nature of a terrier. Silly. Little. Twit.

Despite Benny's antics, I still managed to take a few shots of our snowy surroundings. Please remember to click on each photo to enlarge it.



Here's Benny, tromping through the snow, waiting and watching for when I take my next step so he can kill that clump of snow. His face is all frosty from this activity. (please click to enlarge)




The tree branches were weighted down by the snow but the tips of its pine needles glistened in the sunlight. (please click to enlarge)




There wasn't enough snow to disguise this recent branch break. (please click to enlarge)




There are many apple trees along the path. This one has seen better days but it's probably been sitting here since autumn. (please click to enlarge)




The pink pods of the Spindle tree have faded since autumn, but they still contrast strongly beneath their white caps of snow. (please click to enlarge)




Back at home, the fresh snowfall drew several Cardinals into my yard. This beautiful male watched me through the glass door - his mate partly hidden behind him. (please click to enlarge)




When the male moved to the feeder, I could see the female, looking inquisitive and bright. Despite her subdued colours, I think she's even more lovely than the male. (please click to enlarge)




More snow later in the day. I had seen the apple on one of the trees to the left of this path. (please click to enlarge)




Big, fluffy flakes. (please click to enlarge)




The only open water in the pond seemed to have a dull, pink-hued colour. I don't know what caused it but it cleared up by the next morning. (please click to enlarge)




The geese appeared quite unaffected. (please click to enlarge)