The Yellow Warbler

Since there's nothing happening in the yard these days I think I'm going to take the opportunity to blog about some of the wonderful birding experiences I had this summer on our various camping trips.

This post is dedicated to my ever present BFF the Yellow Warbler. These guys were at our campsite on almost every trip. I think that they've visited my yard on occasion.

I think my favourite Yellow warbler experience had to come at St. Malo this past august. We'd brought a rubber dingy with us to tool around the motor free lake, but I'd had a sneaking suspicion that I had another motive behind it...and as it turns out I did.

After noticing that there seemed to be at least a dozen of them playing in the bushes that butted up against the lake in our site I decided to venture out in the dingy with my camera (with some trepidation...expensive lens + water do NOT mix).

What I would witness next will be remembered forever and ever. Apparently when you approach birds from the water they have no fear of you. The pictures here weren't taken on that particular excursion. I decided to sit and watch more than try to photograph it.

The males and females seemed to be playing and eating in some sort of Shakespearean frolic. Aside from the fact that I had never seen so many of them in one particular place at one time, the sight was one to behold.

There was no way I could capture the beauty of what I was seeing other than imprinting it into my brain. They flitted to and fro, ducking into the bushes in an almost hide and seek manner. One would pop out and grab a bug/berry remnant, flit over to it's counterpart as if to say "look at what I have!!" Then flit off being chased like mad. It almost seemed like a spring courtship ritual.

It truly seemed magical.

The picture above was one that I took on our first trip of the year to Opapiskaw. I had just finished my first half marathon and had blisters the size of my fist on my feet and toes. Moving was definitely a challenge for the first few days.

As a result i was pretty much tethered to our trailer and my hubbie would walk the puppy. Initially I was resentful of the situation, but then I realized that buy sitting there all day long I was privileged to witness things that I otherwise would have missed.

The main one being how warbler rich our site was. For the first time ever I didn't turn the radio on (it started off that way because I couldn't walk over to it to turn it on...it stayed that way after I realized the sound would chase away the more skittish birds). Seems obvious right? Well apparently the thought had never crossed my mind before...live and learn!

The yellow warbler was a very regular visitor to our site and the desire for green worms was high...and the trees in our site had plenty!!

I can hardly wait to see these guys again next year!!

Empty...

The yard is all but empty...there's a few blue jays that make an occasional appearance, but for the most part the 3 days of torrential rains seems to have driven most of the birds south.

There's a couple dozen house sparrows still hanging around trying to chip out some seed...most of the feeding bowls filled with water and froze. I brought them in to thaw and dumped the fetid water, but the seed still seems rather crunchy.

I guess there's really not a lot to report. Nothing surprising really...it's almost November and the weather finally turned. I guess that's not that bad...we've had great weather since April.

I've noticed the solitary chickadee still coming to the yard...I hope he manages to hang through the entire winter...no sign of the nuthatch tho'.

Maybe this winter I'll have some sort of cool Grosbeak visit...fingers crossed.

These shoes were made for running...

And so the time has come to say goodbye to my faithful friends. I could no longer pretend that they could do the job I needed them to do faithfully. They'd taken me through two 1/2 Marathons, and the numerous training runs that led up to them and I found myself surprised.

I had no idea how attached to my runners I'd gotten until It came time to replace them. I spent over an hour and a half trying on 16 different pairs of runners and nothing seemed to feel as right on my feet as my Asics.

I'd read various articles when I started running about people having difficulty replacing their very first pair of runners and I brushed them off as coo-coo. I mean they're just runners right?

Wrong. They were the runners that helped me cross my first finish line, the runners that helped me change my life. They took me new places and allowed me to do and see new things...sunrises I never would have seen if not for that early morning run.


They ran me through snow, rain, sleet, hail, high winds, and bitter cold...all of which was on one day...Good Friday's run may not have technically have been my most successful run, but mentally it's still the one I fall back on when I hear myself saying I just can't go any farther. If I could run through that for 10km I can do ANYTHING!

They ran me through sweltering heat & humidity the likes of which I had never seen before...lets face it in the past when it got that hot I stayed inside and turned up the A/C.

I have no idea what's in store for them now...I can't see myself tossing them...not yet anyways...maybe I'll clean them up and put them on display. After all, we display other trinkets we bring back from various holidays that are a simple reminder of a place we've been...why not a reminder of something bigger?

Others might not get it, but then that's nothing new for me. I've never been one to cater to the "norm"...if I was I never would have trained for my first half marathon in only 3 1/2 months. A point I'm proud of...my time was slow, but so what?

I have the medals, I have the shirts, but it was the feet that got me there.

You're replacements may be shinier but they will never have the honor of being the shoes that helped me cross my very first finish line.

Sparrows, Sparrows and more Sparrows

There's something about this time of year that makes me feel all warm and cozy. There's 3 days of solid rain predicted and to me that means it's time to light a candle, crack a good book and put the ipod on shuffle.

To the birds it apparently means it's time to get the heck outta here. I spent yesterday closing up the yard for the season. The key part of that is moving the feeders in closer to the house and adding some snow fence to keep the puppy's damage contained.

With the feeders being up close and personal I've noticed that the Bluejays have dwindled slightly...either that or they're waiting for the rain to ease up. The magpies have ventured into the yard and will soon be devouring the suet feeders.

The starlings have yet to make an appearance for more than a moment or two and the woodpeckers have become steady visitors to the suet.

All in all it feels like the season's almost done.

Ironically on our walk a bout yesterday I saw a bald eagle land in the farmers field by our house...I'm thinking some poor bunny became his dinner...he was very territorial to the near by geese.

There's something wonderful about seeing that flash of white bum and just knowing you're about to see something awe inspiring.

The sun sets faster every day

I just can't get over how fast the daylight is slipping away from us. It was just last week that we timed our walks to coincide with a 7pm sunset.

Yesterday we were out at 6:30 and it was a race to see if we could get anything at all captured!

You know winters on it's way not from the bite in the air but from the simply amazing colour that's hitting the sky these days. I know the saying goes 'hit every sunrise and sunset with camera in hand and you'll wow people with you digital expertise."

I don't think that the sunsets are as spectacular as the sunrises but then that could be a bit biased. I think the knowledge that I was up and about and out in the cold to capture a sunrise makes it more special to me.

I'm surprised though by how many people don't even notice them at all. I was on the street taking pictures of the sky when my neighbors walked by and never once looked up to comment on the sunset. Seems sad to me. How do you wander through life with blinders on?

How do you not see the things happening around you? It's funny how things that annoyed you growing up stick with you and become part of who you are as an adult. I remember being a passenger in whatever vehicle my dad was driving...I always had a book to read. It never did make me sick to read in a car...and every time he would give me crap for not paying attention to what's happening out the window.

"Your nose is always burried in a book!" He'd say, "take a look at what's around you!!"

Ironically, words I now live by, bugged the hell out of me back then. He was right...go figure.

The Canadian mint at moonrise

History repeats itself

I was sitting here trying to think about what the next title should be...I was playing with a version of "boring" when I decided to look back a year and have a look what I had posted.

Ironically? The post was titled "borrrring" and it blathered on about the lack of birds other than house sparrows and how the starlings were starting to stalk the yard from the wires and fence.

EXACTLY what I was going to mention today. Funny how thing truly work in circles...I know it's all about the visible daylight and food sources but it seems funny...the only good thing I noticed was that by this time last year the blue jays were gone...and as you can see they're still here packing it down.

The weather's been wonderful here, but it's starting to turn. My hubbie came back from walking the dog last night and said it was FREEZING and time for mitts. When he declares it's time to whip out the mitts you KNOW it's cold.

There's sunshine in the forecast for the next few days, but next weeks below normal temperatures coupled with 3 straight days of precipitation means that there's snow on the horizon and soon.

I doubt it will stay, but it'll no doubt scare away what few birds I have left so It's time to accept the house sparrows and starlings and set some goals to capture them on a lovely hors frosty day!

Bluejays...loud and corny

If there's one thing I adore about this time of the year it's the ever continued presence of the blue jay. I have a couple of pairs that take turns visiting the feeders all day and I have to say I love it.

The only thing that makes me sad though is the knowledge that the birding season has come to a close again. The juncos are all bu gone so all that's left to look forward to is the starlings eventually returning to the yard as their natural food sources diminish.

However with the weather we're having I don't see it happening any time soon. Gotta love this fall we're having...hopefully it'll hang around for a bit longer!!

Seeing Red

Epiphanies smell like rotting leaves. Whether that's a good or bad thing... well I guess that's up to the individual

I finally hit the road again yesterday after the longest 3 weeks off of my life. I had to let the muscles heal after the last 1/2 marathon. Well I did and it was nothing short of hell. I realized that the thing keeping me sane this year was running.

I've been feeling restless and antsy...the moods have been back full force and even though I tried to make it all better, it just hasn't worked.

The leaves have dropped, I hate TV for the first time in my life, I'm dreading snow & halloween feels like a burden. The real kicker? I don't want Christmas.

I find myself hating the definition of who I was and the expectation that I shall remain the same forever and ever. I wonder why change is so hard for people (myself included) to accept?

I've stepped so far out of my box this year it's nuts, but yet people are still trying to keep me where I was...maybe because then they won't have to be wrong. Maybe because then all of the ASSumptions that they've made will have merit. Why do people want me to fail at the new me?

I'm not saying it's a version of me that will last a lifetime, it's just part of who I am right now, this very minute.

The usual negative presence in my life decided to lecture on how running is bad for you and dangerous...and how I shouldn't be doing it...Umm...SHUT IT! (note: it's a little late to lecture after 2, count 'em TWO, half marathons in 4 months...with no long lasting injuries...other than the loss of a few toenails).

I'm not an idiot, despite what you believe. This was not a task I ventured into lightly. I spent months studying running before I even took a step. Is there a chance I could hurt myself? Tear something? Wreck something? Of course there is.

But if I approach everything in life afraid of what COULD happen I'm going to miss one hell of a ride. There are things in life that are worth risking stepping outside of the bubble for...If i hadn't decided to step outside that bubble I think I would have gone mad this year.

Then again maybe I did, but I was too busy enjoying the scenery to take notice.

The wood duck battles the geese for food

Clarity

There's something about an early morning sunrise that allows the mind to clear for me. I sat in my living room, awakened yet again far too early by the unseen force that has driven me out of slumber for the last few weeks.

I happened to look up from my morning paper and noticed that the kitchen was starting to turn a lovely shade of pink. This could only mean one thing...a gorgeous sunrise was on natures morning agenda.

I decided to grab my camera and head out, intending only to head behind my house and capture a little bit of the colour without the roof lines of the neighboring houses.
Once I'd snapped a every conceivable shot, it was apparent that there was a lot more to be seen as the sun had yet to break the horizon.

Dressed in a sweater, pj pants and flip flops I decided to jog about a km down the gravel road to see if I couldn't get something with the open farmer fields which I knew would be filled with the over-nighting geese.



What I would see would take my breath away and will be a moment that I doubt I will ever forget.
Let me set the scene...the skies shifting from pink to purple with hints of red, orange and umber...it was on fire. As I jogged past a few derelict houses i notice that there's a light layer of fog rolling off of the farmer fields. I think that I'm the luckiest person alive at that moment.

I have all of this to myself...natures has put on this show for me and me alone, because who else in their right mind would be awake this early on a Saturday morning?
Just as I'm reveling in this feeling of euphoria I realize my upcoming presence has disturbed hundreds of Canadian Geese slumbering in the fields and they take to the sky. And to my left? A family of White tailed deer quickly dash across the field and retreat into the forest.
I'm not ashamed to say that I was moved to tears by the stunning beauty before me. Add to that the feeling from a sunrise jog and I can honestly say I've never felt more clarity in my entire life.
I just stood in the middle of the gravel road watching the sun come up...I was out there for at least 30 minutes. I felt so connected...to mother earth, to my dad, to my life.

Eventually the cold started to set in and it became apparent that as the sun climbed higher that the show was slowly drawing to a close. I headed home for a much needed cup of coffee and as I sat watching the early birds come to get their peanuts, I felt like there was never a better time to start working on this years entry for the Thankful book.

It's something I started a few years ago. Every year each member of the family gets to add a page...on that page you put down what you're thankful for. Sounds simple right? maybe even a little boring?

Well the thing is that we often forget what it was that made the previous years so special. When you go back and read what you were thankful for that year, you're given a little glimpse into what your life was like that year.

Sometimes it makes you sad, other times it reminds you about what's really important in life. This years entry turned out to be one of the best I've written in a long time. I credit the show that momma nature put on for me and only me that wonderful glorious morning.

Seriously. Stop. Breathe. Enjoy

There's nothing like a Manitoba sunset

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's nothing quite as beautiful as a Manitoba sunset. There are gorgeous sunsets all over the world but there's something truly spectacular about the ones here in Manitoba...especially in the fall.

I love how they start off one colour and then shift through a rainbow of colours after that. Red. orange, yellow, pinks & purples ever changing, ever shifting. If you blink you're likely to miss one face of it.

Last night I was out for a stroll (without my camera unfortunately) and the sky looked like it was on fire. How could we not? It's October and we're having daytime highs in the mid twenties.

A year ago today we were preparing for an early winter...thanksgiving felt more like christmas than it ever has before. Friday night we left the in-laws place to discover 2 feet of snow on the car and sheets of ice where the roads used to be.

We got home and I snapped this picture to the left at about 11pm...and the snow kept on coming. It didn't stay of course, it was here just long enough to make the holiday driving a challenge.

I think that's why everyone here is taking full advantage this fall heat wave while we can. I took a 10 km urban hike with my puppy yesterday. It was fantastic. The crunch of leaves underfoot, the smell of fall and the sound of childish laughter...not all of it from me. The parks were packed with strollers and parents sucking in some of the last bits of summer.

The birds are thrown off by it too...this morning I had a Western Meadowlark serenading me over my morning coffee...in OCTOBER.

The only bad thing that comes from these beautiful days is when the temperatures head back to their normal range...people get so crabby. Crabby people should spend the winter hibernating. I've never understood the intense hatred winter has around here. I mean, I get it. It's cold. Really cold. But you live in Manitoba what do you expect?

When it goes below -30'C grab a book, curl up in front of a fire and make the best of a bad situation. And when that weather last for 3 weeks? Well do what I do...cook dishes from exotic, warm locals and pretend!

A nuthatch visits for the first time!

Solitary Sandpiper

The only fella I ran across on our hike that wasn't a coot or a goose. His head bobbing provided much entertainment!

Some days you're the windshield, Some days you're the bug

I don't quite know what's up these days. The birds have all but disappeared from my yard...seems early. The weather is gorgeous dry, warm and sunny...you couldn't ask for a nicer start to October. So why do I feel like things are not quite right in the universe these days?

All summer I felt like the windshield...as life's complications and challenges came flying at me I deflected them, absorbed the splats and kept pushing forward. Lately as the colours have changed I've started to feel a little more like the bug each day...not a feeling I want to hold onto.

Could it be that I've become an outdoor activity junky? Running, Hiking, Biking, walking have all become such a standard part of my day...sitting still gives me the figits.

This past weekend I ended up going to our local wetland preserve and hike the outer dike trails...hoping beyond hope that there would be some sort of interesting waterfowl for me to photograph.

Alas it was a bust...with the exception being random handfuls of Geese, Coots and mallards. I could have stayed home and seen that in our development's lake...but then I wouldn't have been able to spend 3.5 hours hiking through back country trails.

That sounds more interesting than it really is...it was basically like hiking through random farmer fields full of holes that must have been home to some small human.

Add to that the dodging of copious piles of horse poop and you have a very foot placement conscious hike...I swear I spent more time looking at where my feet were going than at the marshes.

Not a bad experience though...I can cross it off my list of thing I was to do this summer.

I need a new list!