Blue Jays

I find it ironic that I never thought that maybe the reason I hadn't seen anything other than a house sparrow in my yard lately was because I hadn't looked. Yup. I'm that slow. I spent this past Thursday sitting at the kitchen tables watching the never ending snow fall.

It was one of the best days I've had in a long time. I had no work that needed to be done other than house work, so I decided to practice what I preach, Sit down and enjoy the feature presentation mother nature was giving me.

After about 15 minutes I found that the blue jays had not deserted me as I had previously assumed, they were just feeding at different times for shorter periods of time.

It was wonderful. The snow was falling steadily and rapidly and the bluejays were determined to get those peanuts. I ended up tossing a handful of them onto the feeding platform right by the back door so I could get another up close and personal experience with them.

The obliged me and spent almost an hour flying right up to the window, grabbing a nut and taking off to the amur to eat the nut. A simple routine, altered only when my cat would throw himself up against the patio door.

My poor, slightly stunned cat...only he will throw himself up against the glass to try, somehow to get to the nice big juicy birdies on the other side.

The other one just sits and enjoys the show they put on, chattering away, dreaming of what it would be like to take down a bird half it's size.

I think that's one of the things I love about animals...the baser instinct...it's not about logic, it's not about practicality, it's about what they were programmed to do.

My baser instinct these days seems to be telling me to get outside. I find that if I'm trapped indoors for too long these day's I get bitchy...who ever would have thunk it.

I almost don't recognize myself anymore. This past year has been filled with so many life altering changes that not only has the physical me changed, but the internal one as well. I just don't think I know who I am anymore and it's confusing. All of the things that helped define who I am, no longer exist.

I guess it's all about the comfort zone and I've been removed from mine...so I guess I need to figure out what new things define me.

I know one thing...coffee is still my best friend and my baser instinct seems to be telling me to go discuss it with her...

Snow, Snow, Snow and...wait for it...SNOW!!

Has there ever been a time when it seems that the snow just won't stop coming? That's what it's like around here these days. We're knee deep in our second major storm in what...a week?

Don't get me wrong I love the snow...I'm just itching to get out and I don't particularly care to head out when the reports say it's icy as hell.

It's become a regular ritual to clean off all of the feeders before I do anything else in the morning...the poor fellas...all they want to do is eat...eat me out of house and home it seems.

I've finished of 2 huge bags of seed since these 2 storms have hit...these birds need to realize I'm on a budget! ;)

These pictures were taken at my favourite dog park. The park has recently seen a surge of caring members and it seems that the bird feeders are never empty when I go. I usually take along a zip lock baggies full of extra seed just in case.

I mostly see chickadees and nuthatches when I go...and let's face it I'm obsessed with getting the perfect shot of these guys...not exactly an easy feat when you have a dozen dogs milling around you...some barking their heads off at me and my camera. (I've learned that there are a few dogs terrified of long lenses).

On the same note though it's not exactly challenging as these guys are so used to canine and human company I wouldn't be surprised if one of these days I could get them to hand feed from me.

Now that's something I long to try...I never have as it would seem that the best birds for it are chickadees and Grey Jays...neither of which I have around here. I love the up close and personal experience you can get with birds.

The only one I've ever had was with a hummingbird...she came withing 8 inches of my face and really wanted me to move away from the feeder (i was sitting next to it filling suet and bark butter feeders). She was stunning and gorgeous...and very squeaky.

These days the house sparrows are all that's managed to stay through these 2 storms, the blue jays have gone so I guess now I'll have to hike in order to see someone different.

If i could only find some out of date ski boots to go with my out of date skis, I could throw my camera in my back back and head into the bush and hopefully see a few grosbeaks!

Winter Birds

If there's one thing I love, it's winter. The -40'C we hit with windchill? Well that's just a badge of honor to me. I wouldn't live in Winnipeg if I couldn't handle winter...it lasts 6 months here...sometimes longer.

I'm the first to admit that I miss the hoards of brightly coloured birds that frequent my feeders during the warmer months. There's something special to me about house sparrows though.

They're the only bird that stays at my feeders all winter long. I get the occasional woodpecker and starling, which is fantastic, but what is it about these little birds that makes them so special to me?

Maybe I see just a little bit of myself in them or maybe I see them a as symbol of tough Winnipeggers, facing tough winters. Even in the most adverse weather they survive...call them the cockroach of the bird world if you like...but they do what needs to be done in order to keep going.

And today I think that maybe I'll take a page from that playbook...

Ahhh...to be in a drama free bird world

Now I KNOW that the holiday season is here. The inevitable drama that surrounds family dinners has started. It almost wouldn't seem like Christmas without the usual manipulation and testing of love.

Every year I dread it and every year I vow to just go along with the flow, and every year we end up in tears. Personally I'm sick of it. I long to be a bird...if it wasn't for that nasty predator issue I would say It's a damn fine life.

Just yesterday I spotted either a juvenile Bald eagle or a VERY large Hawk hunting behind our place. The sparrows scattered and I tried desperately to grab my camera in time, but alas I missed him. He was gorgeous...at least the underside was...that was all I could see.

He hovered in mid air for what seemed like a solid minute...he'd spotted his prey...most likely some small bush bunny. In the blink of an eye it was over...and the sparrows quickly returned resumed their feasting. It made me envy them...such a simplistic, basic life.

They don't test each others love, they don't manipulate each other and lie just to catch the title of "the good child"...which by the way I find sadly disgusting. Imagine living your life to please an abuser...you take the verbal fist to the gut and run back asking for seconds. Not me. Never again.

When I entered into this family I tried...I tried so hard I was on the fast track to an ulcer. Then last year, loss made me realize that I would never succeed as along as I kept chasing after that carrot they dangled in front of all of us.

I made a change...to live life openly and honestly...to live life game free. To truly LIVE. I couldn't stand to be around people who were fake. I just can't play the games anymore...i don't think I should have to...and I guess that's selfish on my part.

I guess my new challenge in life is to figure out how to get rid of this anger that's popped up again. I feel like the last years worth of progress just got flushed down the toilet. Why are they still on this planet and he's not?

Thoughts like that are a recipe for disaster and I know it. I thought that I had moved past all of this, but one simple slight hauled up all the baggage that i really thought I had tossed overboard.

I guess that's really one of life little secrets, nothing ever really goes away. You think you've moved on and then there's that big huge punch in the gut that reminds you it'll always be there.

Life's cyclical irony rears it's ugly head yet again. Oh to be a bird.

A Winter Wonderland

Well it's here... winter has arrived with a bang! The snow had finally started coming down and I expect it to pick up it's intensity as the night wears on. I can't say that I'm sad to see it get here.

For the last few weeks I've felt almost panicked at the thought of getting in as many runs as I could before the streets become slick with snow and ice. Well now i can relax because I've done quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever done. I've gone a registered myself in a half marathon...at the end of February...in Winnipeg.

For those unfamiliar with that time of the year here it averages about -35'C plus windchill...which could drop it below the -40'C mark. It could also be a balmy -25'C...you really never know.

So the long and the short of it is that I now must run outside no matter what the conditions are and I'm not afraid to admit that after yesterday I might have bitten off more than I can chew.

I had a simple 6 km run yesterday and it fell just shy of agony. It took at least 4 km for my legs to warm up and then they decided that they were done...out of gas. For the first time since early training runs I was forced to do a gel after 4km. Oi. That was a rather humbling experience for me, but i soon realized that I needed to stop acting like I had somehow failed myself.

The point of all of this running is not to hold myself to the same standard that other runners have for themselves. If I did that I would not see all that I accomplished this past summer as a success. It's not failing when you need help. It's only failing when you refuse to acknowledge your vulnerability.

I don't mind the fact that I'm slow. I don't mind the fact that people still see me as fat. I don't care that sometimes I have to consume $30.00 worth of gels just to finish the run. The point is that I do whatever it takes to get it done.

And that alone in my book makes it a success. If we only try what we know we'll succeed at, we'll never truly know what we're capable of...I'm living proof of that.

tis the season to be jolly?

There's something about this time of year. The air is filled with anticipation, malls have their decorations strewn about and people are starting their holiday shopping.

We're anticipating our first storm of the season to hit sometime today...by the time it's over I expect to see somewhere between 10-15cm of snow...not exactly a ton, but the birds seem to be telling me otherwise.

Yesterday there was an absolute feeding frenzy in my back yard. There were upwards of 100 house sparrows attacking anything and everything they could, the blue jays and magpies even seemed to be hungrier than usual. But I guess when you know what they seem to know I'd stock up too and stay home...well in truth that's kinda my plan for tomorrow.

It's not so much that the snow bothers me...it's the idiots that completely forget how to drive in it that do. So more often than not when the snow comes I wait for the plows to hit the streets before I leave if I can. The joy of being self employed!

I'm really hoping that the blue jays stick around for a few days once the snow hits...I'd really like to get some fantastic pictures of them...last year they fled pretty damn quick...but they're still here so maybe this year!

A pileated Woodpecker makes an appearance at the Dog Park

A simple trip to the dog park yielded a most pleasant surprise. The Pileated woodpecker!!

Of course it was the one time that I did not have my good camera with me...hence the less than stellar captures, but at least i have proof!

This fella was not afraid of anybody or anything often letting me get withing about 15 feet of him. I will never ever again not have my camera with me...neck pain be dammed!

Cedar & Bohemian Waxings

I'm going to start this post by reiterating how gorgeous the weather has been around here lately. The first weekend in November brought some of the most gorgeous weather I've ever seen at this time of year (+14'C). We decided that we simply had to make the most of this weather and decided to head out to our favourite campground/ provincial park and do some hiking.

Truth be told I also wanted to see what the place looked like with no leaves. It was amazing how different everything looked. So we wandered around rather aimlessly...I ended up putting my camera away as it became very obvious that there weren't any birds hanging around. I had thought as much going out...with no evergreen trees for shelter I couldn't imagine there being much past blue jays and chickadees.

As we walked yet again around our usual camping bay I kept hearing sounds that sounded to me like cedar waxwings...but they should be gone...who could it be? Well I soon realized that there was a rather large flock of cedar waxwings devouring the berries left on the trees. So I had to take pictures...just had to.

It was still bothering me that they would have been there...then I opened up the files the next day for editing and imagine my surprise when I realized that there had been Cedar and Bohemian waxwings mixed all together?!?!?! WTH???

I was simply over the moon as this meant that there was yet another bird that I could add to my life list and shot list for the season. I still can't get over it...I almost feel ripped off...like I should have been reveling in their presence more or something.

I guess it just reaffirms my belief that i should always attack every sighting as if it's the first. It's paid off with cedar waxwings this year...I thought I couldn't get any better shots that I did in Opop...but in August at St. Malo, the shots I got actually surpassed the best shots I'd ever taken in my life.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I need to stop thinking of everything I see from a photo op perspective. I know I tend to focus on the photography...how can I not? Maybe I need to try and focus a bit more on the experience?

It's not really my fault though...I see a subject and get into this zone...I don't even hear anything else...I just point and shoot, point and shoot. Often going for hours as my patient hubbie just sits and watches me work. I'll look up and find that they've actually gone back to camp, leaving me to my hunt. It'll feel like 10 minutes and it's been an hour and a half...how can something that triggers such intense focus be a bad thing?

Even just thinking about it now I'm getting that rush, that high that comes from a successful sighting and documenting it. I'll be honest, I don't actually count it as a sighting unless I have photographic proof.

I'm hoping to spend most of this winter skiing and spotting winter birds. And now that I know Bohemian waxwings winter here I can hardly wait for the first snowfall!

Sun Shiny Magpies

I always know when winter is on it's way when these guys make their way to my feeding stations. The Magpie!! I personally love these guys even though their not usually considers a 'desirable' bird to bring to ones yard.

Magpies are scavengers by nature...they eat whatever they find are are not to picky about the state that it's in. I usually only see them in the yard in winter as their natural food source diminished as it get colder.

Their food source? Why roadkill of course! Yup. These stunning birds will often be found feasting on whatever roadside delight the passing motorists have left it that day. I guess this is part of the reason regal birders like to turn their noses up at them. Even the people that run my local bird supply store seems to have an issue with them.

This makes me wonder just how many people truly see these birds. Or is it one of those times where you've been told they're bad so they must be.

I mean look at these birds! They have one of the longest tail feathers I've ever seen,stunning colour and when the sun hits them just right there's no telling what you're going to see.

The picture to the left is the best example of it...I had no idea until yesterday how gorgeous these fellas could look. The sun hit him and the tail went every shade of gorgeous! Magenta & PURPLE???? WOW.

The picture itself isn't a stunner...I added some green garland to the snow fence to make a nicer backdrop for when the birds land never once imagining that I'd be photographing these giants beasts in all their stunning glory.

So tell me...why are these a "crappy" bird to get in your back yard? How many things are you going to walk by in life because you have preconceived ideas about what is "good" or what is "bad", what's "pretty" and what's "ugly".

We rush around like frantic little ants. Scurrying around without ever even looking up to see what we're passing by. For what? More money? More stuff? I'm just as guilty of it as the next person...I love stuff. Stuff makes me happy.

The thing that makes me happier though? Is when I can re tell a story about an amazing sunrise or sunset I witnessed and others ignored. Or hiking trail that I conquered that others would not consider the thing to do on their vacation.

I spent my 36th birthday this year doing a 21km trail ride on a beat up old bike that was stuck in 2nd and 5th. I hadn't ridden my bike once in the last 3 years before this trip. And I rode through swamp, through lakes, down hills, around trees and over craters left by some unknown meteor landing (okay maybe they weren't that big, but they felt like it).

Why mention it? Because before this year I never would have even attempted it because I didn't believe I was capable of it. These pre-conceived notions we have about nature, about each other, about ourselves are ones that I feel we need to get rid of. Toss them out the window.

Get rid of the labels, get rid of the boxes and pop the bubble.

So the next time your looking around, really look with your eyes wide open...you might surprise yourself.

Nuts!

Have I mentioned how much I love bluejays lately? It could be in part because they are one of the few birds left for me to look at...but it could also be because they are, to me, simply gorgeous birds.

They're one of the few species where the males and females are almost indistinguishable from each other. I love that. Equality in nature. Not something we often see in birds. More often that not the females some shade of brown or another neutral and the males a splendiferic melee of colour and song.

I admit I'm guilty of it, when I go looking for birds to photograph I all to often will chase the male and ignore the female...the male sells, the female...well she mainly dwells on my hard drive.

There's at least 4 of them that takes turns rotating through the yard. I've taken to adding a few more nuts to the blend and they don't seem to be complaining.

I could stand at the back door all day and watch them. It seems that it won't be long before they disappear as well and all I'm left with will be house sparrows.

Don't get me wrong...I don't hate House Sparrow like many bird snobs do. It's just that after such an amazing summer where I added over 15 new birds to my life list and photographed over 40 different birds in all their glory...Well it's almost depressing.

Who knows though, if my plans of taking up cross country skiing and winter hiking come to fruition I may just be able to add some Winter Grosbeaks to my collection...now THAT would be a dream come true!

November walks in as gentle as a lamb

It's November and it feels like September. I'm hoping that the old adage that's usually applied to May doesn't transfer over to November. We had our first glimpse of snow a couple of weeks ago...the usual...gone within an hour of the sun rising.

I'm reveling in this glorious fall weather. Running is still a dream...although yesterdays run reminded me how rough the cold air is on my lungs...I had an old mans smoker cough all afternoon and into the evening.

The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air. .......Eric Sloane