Just grand and not

Spotting birds in nature is grand. Throw in the Grand River and one can be overwhelmed with grandeur! 

We found the large flock of Goldeneyes on the open, fast running water near a bridge on the Grand River of Prince Edward Island where they return every year for a winter visit. I always enjoy time watching these small diving ducks and I stay as long as the cold allows. 

The male Barrow’s Goldeneyes have the white teardrop shape on their faces 

while the Common Goldeneyes have a white circle. 

The female Barrow’s are brown and have an orange beak while the female Common Goldeneyes look similar with a darker beak. It is interesting to watch these birds, such fast, proficient divers as they zip below the surface and reappear a short time later. 

Among them, Common Mergansers are comfortable going about their business too and although they are bigger than the Goldeneyes, the species co-exist nicely. The black and white male Mergansers, front in the next photo, are followed by a female.

I took video of the birds diving and resurfacing and towards the end of the video, you can see the Goldeneyes lifting their heads and tipping them over their backs with their bills raised skyward. This is usually followed by a kick and forward motion in the water which I didn’t see here. It is part of the mating ritual however. See the video here.

Meanwhile, on a stump a distance away, a Bald Eagle watched the scene eagerly. 

It was too cold to stay and wait for it to hunt or fish but I judged myself lucky to have seen such grand birds.

Now for the not so grand:

I wrote a few weeks ago about the number of items around the house which have broken recently. Well, it continues! The new stove, a Maytag purchased late December, has a large burner which is stuck on high regardless of what temperature you select. It worked properly for six weeks. We are waiting for the repairman.

The heat pump on the main level of the house stopped working and we are waiting for a part. That could be some time. It is an LG like our previously infamous stove. 

One of the toilets is ghost flushing. It’s one of those no touch flushers which now flushes excessively when anyone comes to visit. And only then! We have a new toilet to install, a regular one this time.

We have come to realize, this day and age, it doesn’t matter the brand you have. You can expect the worst any time with any brand. Also, any issues with respect to the house or anything in it become more difficult to handle as the years progress and we decline. That makes enjoying now more important and we are glad to be able to handle everything today. Onward…