Nature and Birds in Southern Ontario, Canada
The eastern December sky caught fire this morning. As my boots were in the snow, I raised my hands to warm myself for the exigencies of the day.
The snow-track clouds were bathed in pink and red and were reflected in the still waters of the Welland Canal.
While a crow, perched on the very top of the tree loudly announced, “Today is the first of December!”
Just before dawn, when the fingernail of a crescent moon shines brightly in the sky, I revel at the flamboyant maple in all its orange-red glory; but in the back of my mind I wonder, “Why haven’t all the leaves fallen down by now, like before?”
One of the most complete joys of this fall season has been watching and hearing the male cardinal in the rose bush outside my bedroom window.
He is there regularly eating the rose hips.
Please share any cardinal stories you may have. Thank you.
There was a very weird noise coming from the backyard last night–about an hour after sunset. I thought the aliens had landed or the neighbours were fooling around.
I called my husband to listen with me in the kitchen. I asked him, “What is that sound?”
He said, “It’s a horse!”
We went out the back door to take a look; which was probably a mistake, because the noise then ceased.
He went to bed and I googled, “nocturnal animal or bird that sounds like a horse.”
I then discovered that my equine friend was in fact an eastern screech owl.
It’s a wonderful new bird I can add to my birding list. But maybe some more experienced birders can tell me; can I add it to my list if I only heard it?
If we lost heaven because it fell from the sky, I would say that I found it on the shores of Rice Lake.
The ethereal beauty of the glistening waters, setting off lovely islands here and there, encapsulates a quintessentially Canadian cottager’s dream.
I was greeted by a turkey vulture hanging in a tree, and a red squirrel, holding a pine cone several sizes too big for its mouth.
The gentle lapping of the water on the shore was a tranquil, soothing lullaby.
The lake was so thick with fish that they leaped out of the water to announce their presence.
My farewell was a surprise visit from a long lost love. The loon laughed comically as dusk approached; promising a longer song as darkness fell.
I wish I could hold that view forever in front of my eyes.
And respectfully remembering the Indigenous People who collected wild rice once-upon-a-time, along its shores.
I was studying in the back garden; getting ready to help run the local polling station for the upcoming federal election. I was learning how to get people ready to vote and enable democracy while not taking any sides.
Out of nowhere, on the back fence I heard the loveliest warbling and trilling and looked around to see the house wren bouncing up and down. I had never seen one before and I thought he looked like a sparrow, but certainly did not act or sound like one.
His song was very beautiful and I found his bouncy behaviour very amusing. I will always be grateful to Elections Canada for inadvertently introducing me to the house wren.
My son ordered a pizza for delivery–small size. I wondered what the shuffling noise was coming from the porch.
I opened the front door and I was so surprised and secretly delighted to have the privilege of seeing a beautiful big racoon with a loaded pizza hanging from her mouth. She looked at me and then dashed off; probably taking it home to share with her family.
I saw an oak leaf on the ground. Its perfect shape was so unique and lovely. It made me happy.
I saw another oak leaf. It still had raindrops on it from the night before. It was beautiful.
The goldfinch has a long, leisurely drink at the bird bath after satiating himself on niger seed.
He then flits away; twittering as he goes. Leaving a little gleam of sunshine in my heart.
The female cardinal sits on my front porch eating her breakfast, slowly and methodically. Her muted scarlet hues accented by the rosy colour of the tiles on the porch.
She is caught in the moment by the sunshine and her presence lights up my heart.
My Wylde Lyfe 