They HAve Returned!

I am happy to announce the return of my pair of Downy Woodpeckers (should I say "our" Ang?).

Tuesday evening I got a text from Angie saying that she saw both of them on the suet feeder. Through the next morning I too saw the both of them at different times buzzing back and forth for a meal. I guess they were busy building/preparing a home for a batch of babies?

I just realized that I don't have many photos of them taken with my digital camera... I better get
working on that! This shot was taken a few springs ago at the Royal Botanical Gardens out in Burlington, Ontario. It's a male Downy feeding from my hand (see the red on the back of his head?)

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Old reliables, where are thou?

I'd say since the first few months of actually doing this whole backyard bird feeding that we have had a pair of Downy Woodpeckers visiting the property. A couple suet feeders have been hung in the trees right out back of the kitchen window. I can honestly say this too... that I can count on my two hands the number of days where they have NOT been seen right outside the kitchen window. Well, that is up until about two weeks ago.

Where have they gone? I am almost certain of them not disappearing at this time last year or years before... as I know many birds are pairing up, building nests, etc. They spend more time building a home for the young and are seen less during this time. I've been going back and checking my old calendars from the last few years (I jot down the species to visit each day).

They were fondly named "The Downys". Mr Downy and Mrs Downy. Mister has a red spot on the back of his head and Misses does not. I also called them "Old Reliables" because they were just that; you could count on them showing everyday and many times a day, all year round.

Quiet birds minus some small peeps. Gentle birds and rather brave (or just used to us). When feeding, one could easily walk right under them and not upset them.

A peaceful and simple pleasure to us; watching them as we had our morning coffee. A small addition to the soundtrack that is the backyard.

I hope it's just that they are busy getting ready for the coming of the young. There is an increase in the population of European Starlings the last few years and they are notorious for kicking Downy Woodpeckers out of their homes which can be harmful to the Woodpecker population.

I will wait for them and keep the suet out regardless in hopes of their safe return.

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Spring is here, no matter what your calendar says!

Well, spring is here! I don't care what any calendar says... Saturday March 14th, 2009 is MY first day of spring.

Why? As those who know me and have had this discussion with me... today I saw my first Red Winged Black Birds of 2009. These are males in the photos.

For the last week or so, Angie and I have talked about when they might show up. I did some searches on-line and discovered that others in Ontario had begun seeing them as early as March 5th. I was all set to go out and find my sign of Spring today; but before I was able to go out the door and do so... one lonely male Red Wing showed up in the backyard.

I didn't have to find Spring. Spring found me.

A number of hours later, I was out to a local hot spot for migratory returners, with camera and food in hand and got these shots. A number of Common Grackles were in the mix as well. I don't care what anybody says about Grackles, I like them! I know how much of a pain they can be in large flocks, dominating an area (I have similar problems with European Starlings)... but Grackles aren't here all year long. I also love the look of them, jet black bodies and a blue/green head. They have a fierce look about them with piercing yellow eyes.

Welcome home guys!!!!!

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Off they go!

Hey All... it's Friday... woo hoo! Enjoy the weekend and please be kind to our animal friends... feed a bird, pat a dog or cat, make a donation or contribution to your local animal rescue or pick up a piece of trash in the park... whatever!

I just wanted to inform everyone that the kittens are off to a new home. Someone took them together which makes me and everyone else involved very happy. The black and white one has been named "Checkers" and the other is yet to be named.

Now, mommy still needs a home. Anyone know of a responsible person who may be interested in taking in a 10 month old female black cat who is spayed... please get contact me. She has a very nice loving personality and seems to get along well with other animals.

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Don't Point that Thing at Me!

So, the past couple weeks I have been hit with a number of animal stories. Unfortunately they have all been real downers. Grim realities for sure and nothing I really want to get too into at this moment.

Spring is coming, the flowers will be blooming before we know it. So, with the flowers comes the bees.

I've had my share of Bee adventures since living in this old house. Cracks in the walls and they find them, start building their hives. Luckily I haven't been stung in many years.

I do remember my first time I got stung. Do you remember your's? Mine definitely could have been a lot worse than what it turned out to be and to this day I am still thankful how it didn't happen. There is a lesson to this, something one should think about in similar situations in the future.

When we lived up in Bradford, Ontario 25 years ago... we spent a lot of our summers at the public pool. When we got home, we'd hang our swim trunks out on the clothes line to dry off. So, one day, I am thinking about going up to the pool. I bring my swim suit in from outside, take it upstairs to my bedroom to get changed. The trunks are turned inside out and I set them right, pull them up my legs and... you know, get dressed... just trying to emphasize that this is a bit of a travel with the swim trunks from outside, through the house, up to my bedroom, and then put them on only after I turn them rightside out. I am thinking some of you know where I may be going with this one... yes, there was a Bee resting on the swim suit. Now, I did not know this yet, not even when I had my trunks on, tied up too.

A short moment after tying them around my waist, I felt this sharp pain on my rear end. I pulled the legging bit up to see what it was. All I see is this little black thing sticking in my skin. I am thinking, "Hmmm, this little piece of stick hurt that much?" I then pulled it out. The spot began to swell really fast... and then, in the corner of my eye, I see a Bumble Bee, lying dead on the floor of my bedroom. I was 12 but I freaked out like a 6 year old.

I ended up going swimming a little later on anyways and the swelling went down in a day or two.

To this day, whenever I think about that incident, I can only imagine in horror if that Bee had been resting on the front side of my swim suit. I cringe and want to cross my legs in terror. Anytime now, when I have clothes hanging out on the line, I still shake them *violently* for lack of a better word at the moment...

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Me and My Shadow...

So, I've been battling this cold for 8 days now and am finally feeling better. I know Meadow can sense my "unwellness" but lately she's been even more of an affectionate cling-on. She is my shadow.

If I am on the couch, Meadow is on the couch. If I go to bed, Meadow goes to bed. I am in the shower, Meadow is outside the shower. Funny how when it's your pet, you really don't mind all that much.

My neighbor has been fighting a virus of her own. She's complained to me about one of her animals being a shadow as well in her two plus weeks of illness. I guess an 11 LB cat is okay compared to a 90 LB dog full of mega slobbering bouncing love and joy. He's a unique fellow and his name is "Herman". He went to obedience school and probably failed miserably... but he's such a happy dog. I learned that Herman is a sack puppy. Can you even imagine what that is? Someone got a sack and filled it with a litter of pups, went for a drive, and threw the tied up sack out on a busy street.

I've thought about working for Animal Rescue or the Humane Society but I think I'd probably end up on manslaughter charges against some of these malicious sick $#@%!

I've not done much for many days now, just watch the backyard from my kitchen window.

I went at this blog pretty hard and heavy for the first couple months, spinning out some of my most memorable tales over the years. Am I tapped out, not just yet... but I do hope, with the arrival of spring in a few weeks, that more stories come about.

Well, my shadow has just jumped on my chest... I think it's time for my meds and start my day. See you all in a few.

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The Red Breasted Nuthatch

So, much of last week found me out in the backyard, with camera in hand, chasing around this little bird and his mate. It was pretty darn cold everyday, which should be, being the end of February and me, being a dum-dum... out there in a sweater and no jacket. Why? I don't know really; I guess I get caught up in the moment? It may explain why I am fighting a cold this week.

Part of my mission this winter, since getting this camera, is to get pictures of all the species of birds that frequent the yard through the seasons. These Red Breasted Nuthatches are only around till April or so and then they return to the north woods till sometime after summer is over.

In past years, since I first noticed them about 3 years ago, they have been easy to get photos of... for whatever reason, they have been rather elusive this year. I wonder if may be due to all the Hawk kills this winter? I highly doubt a Hawk would go after one of these birds, they are much too small, and not hardly a meal to a Hawk. Whatever the reason, after 5 days of trying, I finally started getting photos of them one afternoon. This was the best shot out of 6 I got... still working on exposure, lighting, etc.

They are a neat little bird to watch. They run up and down tree trunks with ease, much like the larger White Breasted Nuthatch. Their sound is rather distinct with an "ANK ANK" kinda noise.

A couple weeks ago, I was out at the park, with a friend and our cameras. I ended up talking to this woman, who was quite a bird expert, and she told me I was very fortunate to have these RBNHs coming to my feeders... seems they are a rarity in these parts. "Sweet" I say to myself, got some bragging to do, but to who? Most of my friends wouldn't know the difference between one of these birds from something else I could name off... must educate the masses!

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