Nature and Birds in Southern Ontario, Canada
I was driving down the 406, in my big yellow school bus, after my morning run; when I saw the big birds.
There were two at the top of the tree, off of the highway. One flew off and I noted its huge wing span. I thought it was a turkey vulture.
I turned to the left and saw its partner on the tree; regally perched on the top; and then I noticed its beautiful and majestic white head and large beak.
Oops , sorry bald eagles! I thought you were turkey vultures!
Two beautiful swans were gliding over the surface of a half-frozen lake.
Who says winter can’t be beautiful.
It was a frigid Canadian morning, as I walked from the park along the Welland River to the bakery.
All of a sudden, I heard the familiar twittering of a robin. I looked to find him in a tree with shriveled-up crabapples, hoping to find lunch.
On my return walk; after purchasing strudel and a walnut roll; I saw a whole flock of them flying from one tree to the next.
December was so mild; but I bet they are regretting their decision to stay now. I don’t think it is an early return, as it surely doesn’t feel like spring.
I started my day with the news and thought how awful the world was; and then I went outside and saw the fluffy snow gently falling from the trees, the bright sunshine and the peacock blue sky.
I went inside my mother’s house and saw the chickadee busily darting back and forth from the evergreen tree to the freshly filled feeder. His attitude and behaviour made me happy and I thought how fearless and bright he made me feel.
A curious squirrel, in his winter sweater, with snow on his nose; hoping to catch a falling seed from the birds; peered in the living room window.
Note to self: turn away from the world of man and turn towards nature and then I will see a perfect winter day with all its beauty.
The female cardinal greeted me for the new year at the bird feeder on the window. Her beautiful orange beak stood out against her muted red and brown body.
Her crest stood up on her head. What did that mean? She enjoyed her seed and I enjoyed watching her.
She reminded me that, even though the day was foggy and dreary, and I was still coughing and tired, there is always beauty in nature to restore our joy and hope.
We were in Lake Erie; off the beautiful beach in Long Point Provincial Park; in the precious and unique biosphere of the Long Point sandspit; recognized by UNESCO; enjoying the water and the waves.
I looked up over the lake to see a group of birds, crying and dipping and diving over the water.
At first I thought they were seagulls, with their grey and white bodies, but they had black heads and they didn’t sound or behave like seagulls.
I later found out that they were common terns; but they weren’t a common sighting for me and I was happy to see them.
There is a mallard duck that has a nest in the dense flowery growth of our garden.
As a result, we have gone out and bought a manual lawnmower, (so as not to disturb her).
I’m taking exquisite pride in using it; like a grandmother tiptoeing around a baby sleeping in a nursery.
I’d have to say my favourite bird song is the chickadee’s “fee bee, fee bee.”
There is something about the touching simplicity of it that goes straight to the soul.
There is also the exquisite beauty of the cardinal’s rapturous song and I’ve heard that the nightingale is not bad….
The northern flicker showed up in the vegetable garden when I went to refill my watering can.
With his festive attire of grey hat with a beautiful splash of red in the back; speckled waistcoat and jacket and black cravat; I picture the northern flicker as the ringleader of a bird circus.
He is a very jolly bird to see first thing in the morning and for that I am grateful.
I saw a male cardinal feeding his wife a piece of suet that he found this morning for breakfast. And I saw a common grackle taking a piece of suet to the bird bath and eating it with water. He thought, “I don’t know what this junk is, but it is likely to get stuck in my throat and kill me if I don’t wash it down with water.”
The male cardinal wins for ‘best husband’ and the common grackle wins for ‘smartest bird I saw this morning’.
My Wylde Lyfe 