Taking Flight

Dispite the cold, Whitby Harbour was cheerfully bright and filled with active birds this past weekend. I loved watching this Pintail duck. They are such characters as they dive and splash about. They are fast though so a bit of a challenge to catch bottoms up!

The Trumpeter Swans although popular now at the marshes in Whitby, a few years ago they were becoming a bit rare. Through conservation efforts there numbers are back up. 

The ever popular but oh so common mallard is always lining the water edge along Lake Ontario. In the sun, the hens and drakes were quite showy with the sun spotlighting them.





Longtailed Duck.



The Golden-Eye Duck





I know - it doesn't get much more common than Canadian Geese and Seagulls, but I like their reflections in the water.

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Participating in Wildbird Wednesday

Still Embracing Winter?

Lynde Shores Conservation Park is a favourite hiking spot, but this trip marked my first winter adventure on the trails. 

I get birds are designed to swim in even the coldest of weather, but still I got shivers watching the American Black Ducks and Canada Geese dive in the water.

 

 All this winter wonderland almost makes up for the shoveling - almost.

 

The trails this year are probably the prettiest winter scenery I have seen in our region.

My daughter who smugly insists on packing a coffee even for a hike!

The birds and small animals are very tame and easily feed out of your hand.

With the sun beginning to set we thought it might be a good time to get out of the thick of the woods!

What a stunning grand finale for our hike to see the sunset over the marsh.

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Participating in: Wild Bird Wednesday, Nature Notes

Birds of Different Feathers Flock Together

Adorning our small, front lawn is a huge Manitoba Maple - yes I know a very large tree to be on a small city lot! I'll explain how that came to be in a moment.

A few weeks ago, when we pulled into our driveway we noticed our tree was swarming with an unusual variety of birds.

There were a few Cedar Waxwings which are a small grey-brown little hooded bird with red wing and yellow tail tips. They are one of a small variety of birds that can survive on fruit alone. You can tell these are adult birds because they have a black mask.



Our tree also had two bright red male Cardinals and a lone Downy Woodpecker.



Now the Robin is a common bird, but it did seem odd to find a dozen or so hanging out with these other birds on cold March day my front lawn - all in my Manitoba Maple.

So about this tree. How does a tree this size wind up on a small city lot?  Lets go back 22 years and blame my Dad!

While visiting my parents at their farm, my daughter found a small seedling. Dad decided it would be a good idea to show her how to dig it up, and plant it in a small margarine container so she would bring it home. Don't worry he told me, it will never live.

It thrived and still is 22 years later! For the first few years she refused to let me cut her beloved tree down. Now that she is grown and has long since moved out, I do not have the heart to get rid of this monster tree! Well that and the fact it would cost a fortune to have it removed ;)
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I'm joining in the fun with: Wild Bird Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday